Seawater has pushed about 8 km inland along Tanzania's Pangani River, UNEP reports
19 October 2026
United Nations reporting from Pangani in Tanzania's Tanga Region, where the Pangani River meets the Indian Ocean, describes advancing seawater.
According to UNEP, seawater has pushed about 8 km inland along the river, and mangroves are following the saltwater inland.
Farmers in Matakani, Jasini, Mafisi and Mseko report dying coconut trees; one harvest that once yielded about 5,000 nuts now yields less than a third of that.
Global mean sea level rose 4.7 mm a year from 2014 to 2023, and in 2024 the annual rise hit a record 5.9 mm.
Nearly 770 million people worldwide live in coastal areas less than 5 metres above the high-tide line.
UNOPS is building a rock-filled cage seawall in Dar es Salaam, funded by the Global Environment Facility.
In plain words
UNOPS United Nations Office for Project Services — The UN body that implements infrastructure and procurement projects for governments and other UN agencies.
GEF Global Environment Facility — A multilateral fund that finances environmental projects in developing countries.