RUBAVU - The government in conjunction with the Red Cross are dispatching relief to areas in the Western, Northern and Eastern provinces that were devastated by heavy rains on Sunday, The New Times has learnt.

The rains destroyed food crops, residential houses, stalled businesses, felled electric poles causing power blackouts and forced schools to close mostly affecting candidate classes that were preparing to for their final exams.

"We are working with the government. On Monday we carried out an assessment of the district and we distributed 800 plastic sheeting, 300 iron sheets and 55kgs of nails to the locals and schools,” said Jean Bosco Musana, head of the Red Cross in Rubavu district in the Northern Province.

He added that focus is mainly on schools for the candidate classes to resume since they will soon seat for final exams.

The aid follows a visit by Christophe Bazivamo, the Minister of Agriculture and Stanislas Kamanzi, the Minister of Natural resources on Monday to Kirehe in the Eastern Province.

They promised relief. Bazivamo called for calm and patience among the residents.

Bernadette Kamungu the Vice Mayor in charge of Gender and Welfare in Kirehe district confirmed that the exact number of houses destroyed were 181.

"We have so far received 150 plastic sheetings and we are still sourcing for more,” she said.

Celestin Twagirayezu, the Mayor of Gisenyi district in the Western Province said; "We have contacted schools which weren’t affected and asked them to lend classroom space to those affected.”

He added that Electrogaz branch in Gisenyi is working hard to make sure that in three days the power problem is fixed.

However, Patrick Mboneza, the Headmaster of Baptist College in Gisenyi said that the school is still in a bad state and hasn’t received any aid.

"District authorities asked us to get nails and poles and that the Red Cross will provide tents for the construction of temporary classrooms,” he added.

In Gisenyi town, some internet cafes are still closed and milkmen can’t sell their milk because the dairy’s’ pasteurising systems have been incapacitated by the electricity breakdown.

Of the 25 victims hospitalised on Sunday 28 in Gisenyi, seven are still in hospital while 3 were referred to Ruhengeri hospital.

Ends