UK assists children affected by Mbagala explosions
The UK through its Department for International Development (DFID) is providing $90,000 (about Tsh. 122 million) to give immediate help to more than 7,000 children affected by the Mbagala explosions late last month.
This support, delivered through Save the Children, will help the two schools closest to the military base resume teaching as quickly as possible. It includes providing 7,332 textbooks, 32,900 exercise books and 3,400 school bags for the children, items which were lost in the stampede following the explosions.
“We want to make sure that children can go back to school”, says Catherine Kennedy, Country Director for Save the Children in Tanzania, “After a traumatising experience like this, they need the routine of everyday life to deal with the shock and start feeling secure again.”
Darren Welch, Head of DFID’s office in Tanzania, said “We are happy to be able to assist the children of Mbagala. DFID provides support to education in Tanzania, so it makes sense for us to do something to help the children. We think Save the Children, and the relief agencies, are doing very important work here and are pleased to play a small part.”
The support will also help schools to create spaces for psychosocial support to help children who have been traumatised by the experience. This includes providing material such as balls and skipping ropes, paper and colour pencils as well as professional assistance to children and teachers on how to deal with the psychological effects of the experience. This support will be provided to children in the community, whether they are in school or not.
This assistance is being provided after a joint team with members from Save the Children and the Temeke Municipal Council assessed the needs of more than 7000 children in the Mbagala Kuu area who were affected by the explosions.
DFID Tanzania’s support to the children of Mbagala is in line with our overall aim of improving the quality of education in Tanzania.
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