The Rufiji Floods Disaster

The floods that struck Muhoro and Chumbi in Rufiji in April 2024 unfolded as a human story of sudden loss and fragile resilience. When heavy rains combined with the release of water from the Nyerere Hydropower Dam, entire wards were swallowed by rising waters, 75% of Muhoro ward was under water and thousands fled to primary school buildings, carrying nothing but their children and the clothes they wore.

Croplands vanished, homes collapsed, and clean water became scarce. Women, children, and the elderly bore the brunt of the disaster, navigating overcrowded tents, hunger, and the threat of waterborne diseases. Even the local health centre was submerged, leaving communities without medical care at the moment they needed it most.

Into this unfolding crisis stepped CADIS Tanzania, working with only a quarter of the funds originally required but determined to act. Their team travelled repeatedly through difficult terrain, coordinated with district authorities, and listened closely to the displaced families to understand their most urgent needs.

They installed electricity in dark, crowded tents, delivered eight tonnes of rice, and distributed soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and clothing to women and children. Each intervention, whether wiring a tent for light or handing over food at the Ikwiriri store became part of a larger effort to restore dignity and hope.

Yet the story remains unfinished: many families still had no homes to return to, stagnant waters continued to threaten disease outbreaks, and vulnerable groups like single mothers and people with communicable illnesses remained in need of sustained support as Rufiji slowly rebuilt its life after one of its worst disasters.