Updated 10 April 2013
“All that they do is noted in (their) Books (Of deeds): Every matter, small and great, is on record.” (Holy Qur’an, 54: 52-53)
Friday 29th March 2013 – A holiday in Tanzania to mark Good Friday – A time when many families and friends leave for a short four day break. The early morning on this particular day was the same.... however by 8.30 a.m. the scenario had changed completely... changed for the worst...
The news of the collapse of the building adjacent to the KSIJ Mosque in Dar-es-Salaam at about 8.20 a.m. spread far and wide within a short span of time. Whilst most of us were keeping ourselves abreast with the news by phone, SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter amongst other communication available, there were others who rushed to the scene immediately to help rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, for most of these people this was the beginning of their long unique mission over the Easter Holidays.
Jamaat and Africa Federation officials together with the KSIJ Task Force and Community members were soon joined by volunteers in different fields which included teams of workers, operators and drivers, engineers, rescuers from the Tanzania Defence Forces, the Tanzania Police Force, the Fire and Rescue Services, doctor and Medical personnel, and volunteers from different communities in Dar-es-Salaam.
With the task in hand enormous and the scene emotional, volunteers on site immediately started working with whatever little equipment was available at the time, to rescue those underneath the rubble. With His mercy, 18 survivors were pulled out.
As the hours clicked, hopes of finding survivors grew less; however, the enthusiasm of the volunteers on site did not diminish and this continued until the last day. The volunteers in their respective field faced each moment, each situation bravely and were ever supportive to the families affected.
Professor Karim Manji of Muhimbili had this to say:
“When announcement for blood donation was done, we needed only 8 units, but the turn over from community as well as non-community members was overwhelming, over 40 came in person including many female donors and scores sent text messages or called. We collected 23 units, which would be used in good cause for other patients. Jazakallah to all of them and to the people who facilitated it. As well, help from the volunteers was overflowing. They carried rubble with their hands and every stone they lifted counted. Over 90 workers were summoned to standby at the Emergency Medicine Clinic at Muhimbili to tackle the disaster. They stayed till 6.00 pm without lunch. Our volunteers reached out and brought food and drinks to them.”
As day turned to night, the rescue work got harder but the number of volunteers continued to grow. During these four days, we witnessed unity never seen before in Dar-es-Salaam: the Bohora community provided food for all on site, the Ismaili community provided the hall for everyone to go and eat at, we saw the Sikh community carry food and water to serve those on site, we saw the Hindu volunteers sweeping the floors and the Red Cross volunteer assisted the team of doctors on the ground and provided counselling to those affected. Scouts from our community and the Bohora community were there most of the time as were hundreds of silent volunteers providing all kinds of help and support to those affected and the rescuers. The list is endless.
The President of Tanzania was highly impressed with the unity shown and work done and has hosted a thank you luncheon at the State House on Monday 8th April 2013 for all those involved in the rescue work.
The memories of this tragic event will remain forever in the hearts and minds of many; however Tanzanians demonstrated in action that indeed we are a United Republic where there is no discrimination of color, religion or race.
For more information, email relief@world-federation.org