1996 FERRY DISASTER OF MWANZA
Category |
: |
Ferry Disaster. |
Account |
: |
Tanzania's worst ferry disaster, also
known as Africa's ‘Titanic Disaster', occurred on the
morning of 21 May 1996 when the ferry ‘MV Bukoba', which
had a capacity of 300 passengers had taken more than
1000 on this day, capsized on Lake Victoria just 10 km
from Mwanza in Tanzania. |
Casualties |
: |
More than 800 men, women and children
perished including 40 children who had just given their
final board examinations. |
|
HELP
BY BAPS ORGANISATION
|
|
Centre
|
:
|
BAPS centre in Mwanza, Tanzania was involved with
relief operations.
|
|
Appointed by
|
:
|
The International Red Cross & The Government
of Mwanza.
|
As soon as news of the disaster was heard, BAPS volunteers
immediately formed a large team of roughly 350 individuals
and approached the local authorities and the International
Red Cross to offer assistance and help. The following responsibilities
were entrusted to BAPS.
COORDINATION AND MANAGMENT
Rescue operations were slow and ill equipped for such a disaster.
Chaos was widespread. Bodies of the dead were brought to the
Nyamagana stadium situated near the port of Mwanza. Here, BAPS
volunteers were appointed and entrusted the responsibility
of categorising, documenting and placing the dead so that relatives
could identify them. BAPS volunteers provided their services
throughout the day for a number of days until all the dead
were identified, documented and collected by relatives.
COMFORT & SUPPORT
As rescue workers brought the sick, injured and frightened
survivors, BAPS volunteers provided blankets, clothes, food
and later financial aid.
Moreover, BAPS volunteers also comforted and counselled thousands
of relatives at the stadium.
FOOD FOR RESCUE WORKERS
The authorities had deployed roughly 600 rescue workers. BAPS
took the responsibility of providing lunch and dinner for over
600 people. Food was cooked by BAPS women volunteers at the
BAPS centre in Mwanza, then transported and served onsite to
the rescue workers. For more than a month, while rescue and
salvage work continued, BAPS provided hot meals to the rescue
workers.
Financial aid was also given to the Government for acquiring
medicines and also to support the special rescue team from
South Africa.
|
