As heavy rainfall claimed lives on the roads in Tanzania, MAF was able to bring a team to safety from the flooded region of Ndutu.
Story by Päivi Griffin
A team from a Christian charity, supporting health and education work in Maasai communities, were flown from danger during deadly annual rains that made roads impossible to drive.
Around the time of the rescue, reports also came through that six people were feared dead after their car was swept away by flood waters in the same region of Tanzania.
MAF pilot Peter Griffin picked up three of supporters of the Help For The Maasai (HFTM) to bring them from Ndutu to Malambo.
On the ground in Malambo, HFTM manager Paulo Ndari works knows the devastating impact of the rainy season.
“We experience challenges in transportation of people and goods, especially during rainy seasons,” he said.
“Roads turn muddy, flooded and become difficult to pass. Most roads are without proper drainage systems, lacking bridges or culverts.”
Klaus Wagner and Kurt and Marlies Ladendorf, all German supporters of HFTM, were grateful to see the MAF aircraft arrive to deliver them to safety.
“My wife and I used to be members of the HFTM board, so we know quite a bit about the work and development of this project,” Kurt told Peter from the safety of the cockpit. “We still want to continue to help.
“It’s important to visit physically from time to time and meet the people to understand how our German ideas fit to the environment here.”
Flooding causes delays and cancellations to regular car mobile clinics, interrupting the vaccinations of pregnant women and children.
Kurt, an engineer with a PhD in water purification technology has supported the work in Malambo for decades.
“This is my fourth time visiting Malambo, but we normally travel by road,” he said.
Kurt, Marlies and Klaus were first flown to safety in Malambo. As the flooding continued, an additional airlift was needed for them to reach the international airport for their flight back to Germany.
Paulo oversees both the primary and secondary school in Malambo that educates more than 800 Maasai children. Without Help For The Maasai, these children, especially girls, wouldn’t have access to schooling.
“Flooding causes delays and cancellations to regular car mobile clinics, interrupting the vaccinations of pregnant women and children. It also affects delivering mothers and critically ill patients who find it difficult to access emergency services,” Paulo said.
The effect on students and farmers is enormous as they rely heavily on transport. Financial losses can become exponential within the remote communities.
“The flooding greatly affects our community. When vehicles struggle to reach remote villages, people are forced to walk long distances to access healthcare, schools and markets,” Paulo added. “The alternative though is not to have any access at all.”