UNHCR staff scale Mt. Kilimanjaro to protect refugees from lightning strike

In a remarkable feat, colleagues from UNHCR Tanzania have successfully reached the Lava Tower Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro, situated at an altitude of 4,600 meters. Their primary objective is to enhance the safety of innocent refugee lives by mitigating the risks of fatal lightning strikes. Simultaneously, the team aims to raise funds for the installation of lightning arrestors, addressing the vulnerability of refugees in Tanzania's "climate change hotspots" to the adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters.

This year, heavy rains and thunderstorms have severely impacted Congolese and Burundian refugees, with children in various camps across Tanzania being the most affected. Tragically, on October 18th, a lightning strike in a classroom claimed the lives of five refugee children and injured fifteen others, all of whom have since recovered. Another heart-wrenching incident occurred on October 25th when a nine-month-old refugee baby in Nduta camp was struck by lightning, requiring life-saving treatment. On December 6th, another lightning strike left a refugee child in Nduta camp with multiple burns, but the child's condition is stable after receiving treatment at a camp hospital.

The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has forecasted an increase in heavy rains and storms in the upcoming months, heightening the risk of lightning incidents. These tragic events have deeply affected refugees, who mourn the loss of lives and live in constant fear of future lightning strikes.

To provide much-needed psychological relief and create a safer environment, especially for children attending school, the installation of lightning arrestors is crucial. Shockingly, out of the 56 schools in refugee camps in Tanzania, 46 schools (82%) lack lightning arrestors. To address this critical issue, three dedicated UNHCR staff members from China, Kenya, and Turkey have embarked on the challenging journey of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Their noble mission is to raise funds for the installation of lightning arrestors in schools within refugee camps, ensuring the safety and well-being of the entire refugee community in Tanzania.