East African Community (EAC) member states have been urged to strengthen disaster preparedness and take early preventive measures to avoid a repeat of the devastating effects of the 2023/24 El Niño rains, which caused more than $2 billion in losses and displaced over 1.5 million people.
The warning was issued at a special regional sectoral meeting on preparedness and response to El Niño rains held in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 5, 2026.
The meeting, attended by Permanent Secretaries from EAC member states, focused on developing coordinated regional strategies to mitigate the potential impact of El Niño, with participants recognising that climate-related disasters cross national borders and require joint responses.
Tanzania was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr Charles Kadonya.
Member states were urged to prioritise the protection of critical transport and energy infrastructure linking countries across the region, strengthen food reserves, support farmers and invest in water harvesting and storage facilities.
The meeting also called for stronger disease surveillance and control systems to prevent outbreaks associated with flooding, particularly cholera and malaria.
Such measures are considered critical as flooding can disrupt transport networks, damage agricultural production, undermine food security and increase public health risks.
Tanzania presented its national action plan for addressing the anticipated effects of El Niño and reaffirmed its commitment to participating in the implementation of the regional response framework.
The regional action plan is intended to coordinate emergency interventions, identify priority areas and ensure that the necessary resources are mobilised in good time.
Its implementation is expected to strengthen the preparedness of EAC member states and improve their capacity to protect lives, livelihoods and property against climate-related disasters.