Ace Africa

In Tanzania, El Niño means hunger and ill health is coming

A new UNDP report, 'No time to recover' is warning of a triple shock for the poorest worldwide - an intense El Nino is one of those shocks. The others are surging energy prices and higher government borrowing costs.

The report estimates 132 million people could fall below the poverty line of $6.85 a day, and another 66 million could be pushed into extreme poverty. This will include many Tanzanians.

Where Ace Africa works in Tanzania, the impact of El Niño is much more than a headline. The Tanzanian government is closing schools three weeks early to safeguard children from flash floods, landslides and incredibly dangerous roads.  And El Niño will also cause hunger and ill health.

Mama Nanginyii is one of our community volunteers. She expects her half acre vegetable garden will soon be under water. That means less food for her family. As streams become rivers, and roads become impassible, her village’s nearest health facility will become inaccessible. The HIV patients she supports will miss appointments to access vital anti-retroviral medication. Shops families rely on will not be able to restock and the cost of necessities will sky rocket.

We are not stopping work. We are changing how we work.

Bringing services closer. Community volunteers like Mana Nanginyii, Ace project officers and local government staff will go door-to-door delivering ARV drugs, nutritional flour and medicines – people who can’t travel in this weather will be provided for

Protecting food production. Community support groups will help families set up ‘sack gardens’; the sacks are above ground level and well drained, which allows vegetables to grow even if the main farm is flooded.

Information is power. Before the rains arrivewe will let people know how to adapt to the rains that are coming, and how to get help - through community drama, Ace Africa School Clubs and community volunteers/advocates.

In the weeks and months to come, whatever the weather, Ace Africa and its supporters will be providing practical support to those who need it most.