Govt urged to prioritise PWDs in El Niño plans

DAR ES SALAAM: LEADERS and disability rights advocates have urged the government and emergency management authorities to put persons with disabilities at the centre of disaster preparedness plans as the country braces for heavy rains and possible flooding.

They warned that without early measures, persons with disabilities could face greater risks during floods due to inaccessible infrastructure, limited access to emergency information and delays in receiving rescue and relief assistance.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily News, Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) Assistant Chairperson Alfred Kapole said various groups of persons with disabilities face heightened risks when heavy rains and floods hit their residential areas if deliberate measures are not taken in advance.

Kapole said visually impaired people and those with low vision may struggle to determine the direction of floodwaters or the depth of ravines, while people with physical disabilities, particularly those who crawl or use tricycles, may face serious difficulties escaping to safety during emergencies.

“This group remains deeply overlooked. For instance, consider our peers who are visually impaired or have low vision when this situation occurs, how will they know where the water is coming from or where it is flowing? Someone who crawls, uses a tricycle, or is deaf and cannot hear warnings in the middle of the night, how do we handle them in such a crisis?” said Kapole.

He said deaf people face additional challenges because they may not hear heavy downpours or emergency alerts issued at night, while persons with intellectual disabilities require close human support and guidance during evacuation.

Beyond rescue and infrastructure challenges, Kapole said advisories issued by meteorological authorities urging people to stockpile food and keep money in their mobile phones could also be difficult for persons with disabilities to follow.

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He said many of them live in extreme poverty, have no reliable sources of income and depend on daily support, making it difficult to prepare for emergencies in the same way as other members of the community.

Kapole said Tanzania is among countries that have signed international treaties requiring the protection of the rights, welfare and safety of persons with disabilities during disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

He therefore called on local authorities, including street and village governments, to identify and visit persons with disabilities in their areas and map their locations before disasters occur.

He also urged teachers and school administrators responsible for children with disabilities to put in place clear emergency plans to protect them during heavy rains and ensure they can safely resume their education after the disasters.

“We ask teachers to take firm steps to ensure they assist these children and keep them safe, so that moving forward, after these events pass, they can continue their education to uplift themselves and achieve their dreams,” said the leader.

Recently, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority issued warnings over heavy rainfall that could cause severe flooding, highlighting the need for swift coordination among disaster management agencies, local governments and human rights stakeholders.

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