Disaster
Management Department (DMD)
·
Overview
·
Common Disasters in Tanzania
· Strengthening Tanzania Disaster Response Capacity Programme
· Disaster Management Structure in Tanzania
Overview
The
Disaster Management Department (DMD) was established in 1990 by the Disaster
Relief Coordination Act No. 9 of 1990.
The Regulations government the Department’s operations were laid down in
1991.
Functions of DMD
•
Coordination and Operations
•
Planning and Research
The DMD primary function is
coordination of disaster management activities in the country. It seeks to
ensure that in times of disaster, appropriate response systems, procedures and
resources are in place to assist those afflicted and enable them to help
themselves. The Department is also charged with the responsibility to
coordinate disaster preparedness efforts and activities in order to minimize
the adverse effects of hazards through effective precautionary measures and to ensure
timely appropriate and efficient organization and delivery of emergency.
The DMD
is made up of two sections: the coordination and
Operations Section and the Planning
and Research Section. Each
section is led by an Assistant Director.
Common Disasters in
Tanzania
According to the Disaster
Vulnerability Analysis carried out by the DMD in 2001 in 57 Districts
in Tanzania Mainland, most common hazards liable for disasters in Tanzania were
epidemics, pest infestation, drought/famine, floods, fire, major accidents,
cyclone/strong winds, refugees, conflicts/Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs),
landslides, explosions, earthquakes and technological disasters.
Strengthening Tanzania Disaster
Response Capacity Programme (STDRP)
Disaster Management
Department is since January 2001 implementing a 30-month Programme to
strengthen the Country’s capacity in disaster response. The programme was an outcome of the
terrorist act of August 7th, 1998 of bombing the US Embassy in Dar
es Salaam. The experience of the
incident revealed some weaknesses in disaster preparedness and response
capabilities in the Country. As a
result to this situation, the US Congress allocated a Special appropriation of
funds to USAID mission to Tanzania for use in the following programmes:
·
Providing humanitarian assistance to bomb victims
·
Rehabilitation/reconstruction of the damaged
property and
·
Strengthening Tanzania Disaster
Response Capacity.
Disaster
Management Structure in Tanzania
The
current Disaster Management Structure in Tanzania was put in place by Act of
Parliament passed in 1990 (Disaster Relief Coordination Act No.9 of 1990). According to this Act, the structure
comprises of TANDREC and Disaster Relief Coordination Unit (now Disaster
Management Department) at the National level.
TANDREC has two sub-committees namely: Disaster Operation and
Preparedness Sub-Committees (DOPC) and Food Emergency Sub-Committee (FEC). From the National level, the structure goes
down to the region, district, ward and village where there is disaster committee
at each level.
1.1
National Level
§
Tanzania Disaster Relief Committee (TANDREC) &
§
Disaster Management Department (DMD)
TANDREC:
Composition
of TANDREC
TANDREC is made up of
Permanent Secretaries from Government Ministries or any other agencies
determined by the Prime Minister as having a key role in disaster preparedness
and response. The Permanent Secretary
in the PMO chairs the Committee.
Functions
of TANDREC:
§
To oversee and coordinate the activities of the Government
designed to secure the effective prevention of disasters
§
To oversee the preparedness and operation of affairs in
the event of a disaster and
§
To guide, direct, approve and control the activities of
the Disaster Management Department as well as activities of the Sub-Committees
TANDREC
Sub-Committees
1. Disaster
Operations and Preparedness Sub-Committee (DOPC)
2. Food Emergency Sub-Committee (FEC)
DOPC:
Composition
of DOPC
Experts from TANDREC line
Ministries (Ministries of Health, Works, Agriculture & Food Security, Home
Affairs, Defense & National Service, Communication & Transport).
Functions
of DOPC:
§
To provide technical information to TANDREC on matters
related to disaster mitigation, preparedness and response in relation to their
technical specialization and mandate.
Food
Emergency Sub-Committee (FEC):
Composition
of FEC
Is made up of members
from the Disaster Management Department (DMD), Ministry of Agriculture &
Food Security, FAO, the World Food Programme, Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs) and any organization interested in emergency food distribution.
Functions
of FEC
§
Need assessment and beneficiaries targeting
§
Relief supplies distribution
Disaster
Management Department (DMD):
The Department is made up
of two sections namely:
§
Planning & Research
§
Operation & Coordination
Functions
of DMD
The DMD is charged with
the following duties:
§
To coordinate all relief operations and preparedness
measures;
§
To carry out or coordinate all research relevant to its
functions in order to advise committee on measures necessary for disaster
prevention;
§
To disseminate information on disaster operations,
preparedness and prevention;
§
To convene and service meetings of TANDREC and execute its
decisions;
§
To formulate the scope of disaster precaution plans and
policies designed to govern them;
§
To review regularly and coordinate different disaster
prevention measures
§
To recommend measures and methods for public awareness and
understanding of disaster prevention activities/measures.
§
To advise TANDREC on legislation and authorization for
better management of relief operations.
Regional
Disaster Management Committee
Composition
of Committee:
The Committee is formed
by members of the Regional Administrative Secretariat, Civic organizations
(NGOs & CBOs), Business Community Representatives, Leaders of Religious Organisations
and the Prominent Persons in the Region.
The Regional Commissioner (RC) chairs the Committee and Regional
Administrative Secretary (RAS) is the Secretary.
Functions
of the Regional Committee:
§
To monitor the hazards, risks and disaster threats and the
conditions of vulnerable populations within the region
§
To conduct vulnerability analyses in disaster prone areas
and prepare recommendations on reducing the vulnerability
§
To identify the training needs and conduct educational,
training and public awareness
§
To mobilize and coordinate all intervention from other
agencies
§
To support the implementation of disaster management
programs agreed for the region
§
To mobilize financial and material resources required for
disaster management.
District
Disaster Management Committee
Composition
of the District Committee:
The District Management
Team (DMT) forms the Committee (Heads of Departments at the District
level). Other members include Civic
organizations (NGOs & CBOs), representatives from business community,
leaders of religious organizations, and prominent persons in the district. The
District Commissioner is the Chairman and District Executive Director is the
Secretary of the Committee.
Functions
of the District Committee:
§
To monitor hazards, risks and disaster threats and the
conditions of vulnerable populations within the district.
§
To conduct surveys on disaster prone areas and prepare
recommendations for reducing their vulnerability
§
To identify and map all hazards in the district
§
To identify training needs and conduct educational,
training and public awareness programmes
§
To mobilize financial and material resources needed for
disaster management
§
To ensure that the support is delivered promptly to the
affected communities
§
To establish a civil protection system for disaster
response
Ward
Disaster Management Committee
Composition
of the Committee:
The Ward Disaster
Management Committee is comprised of the Village Chairpersons, Village
Executive Officers, Extension officers (agricultural extension officers, health
workers, community development workers, adult education coordinators) religious
leaders, traditional leaders, religious organizations and CBOs and NGOs. The
Ward Councilor is the chairperson and the Ward Executive Officer (WEO) is the
Secretary.
Functions
of the Committee:
§
Preparation of plans and procedures for disaster
management programmes in their respective locations
§
To take operational control in the event of a disaster or
emergency so as to ensure that support is provided to the affected houses
§
Establish a fund for disaster management
§
Mobilization of needed financial and material resources
for disaster management
§
Establish civic groups for disaster operations.
Village
Disaster Management Committee
Composition
of the Committee:
The Committee is
comprised of heads of hamlets, religious leaders, and traditional leaders,
civic organizations (CBOs & NGOs
The Village Chairperson
chairs the Committee and the Secretary is the Village Executive Officer (VEO).
Functions
of the Committee:
i)
Identify and register families/people within families who
should receive relief supplies
ii)
Relief supplies distribution
iii)
Disseminate information to members of the community on
disaster related issues
iv)
Mobilize communities to take disaster preparedness and
mitigation measures such as improved faming techniques, revival of indigenous
food storage and prevention techniques and planting of trees.
v)
Conduct public awareness campaigns at the village level.
