Highlights
- A joint (Government, UN and NGO) needs assessment is ongoing in five districts.
- ~16,600 buildings are reported destroyed or severely damaged
- Urgent need for temporary shelter is reported.
Situation Overview
On Saturday 10th September 2016, an earthquake of 5.9 magnitude hit North West Tanzania, at about 44 km from Bukoba town, on the western shore of Lake Victoria at around 15:27 local time (12:27 GMT). The earthquake struck near Nsunga town at a depth of 40 kilometers. The tremors rippled as far as western Kenya and parts of Uganda where four people were killed and over a hundred buildings destroyed.
A request for assistance was sent to the UN Resident Coordinator by the Government on the 15th September. The request covered support in the following areas:
1) Participation of UN agencies and deployment of UNDAC team for Damage and Needs Assessment and strengthening of coordination mechanism;
2) Provision of food, non-food items, shelter and medical services;
3) And assistance in long term recovery and rehabilitation in building back better.