WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — The district in partnership with the Rwanda Red Cross on Tuesday donated 800 plastic sheeting to various primary and secondary schools in Gisenyi sector whose classrooms were destroyed by the recent storm.

"We are doing our best to ensure that children have temporary classrooms to facilitate them do their end of year exams. Students in affected schools have no classrooms which has forced some of them to stay at home,” said Jean Bosco Musana, the area Red Cross official.

He explained that the Red Cross in partnership with Police, district authorities and the affected schools’ authorities are working hand in hand to provide other materials such as poles and nails to ensure the temporary classrooms are erected as soon as possible.

Jackqueline Bakunduseruye, the district vice Mayor in charge of welfare, told The New Times that  they have also received a consignment of 826 plastic sheeting meant for residents who were also left homeless by the rains.

"We are expecting more aid from the government and other donors. Our priority is to find temporary classrooms.

Schools are soon doing end of year exams and all students need to revise and prepare for this,” she said.

She explained that needy families would also be given priority during the distribution of the plastic sheeting and 1000 iron sheets.

"A lot is still needed, the recent evaluation indicated that we need 48,000 iron sheets to give to the  homeless residents and over 4,512 iron sheets for  roofing the destroyed schools which are all estimated to cost Frw33m” she said.

She called upon financially capable victims not to wait for the aid but reconstruct and rehabilitate their homes.

The vice Mayor reaffirmed the district’s commitment to sheltering all the victims. "We are working closely with village leaders to identify those to start with,” she explained.

Mediatrice Mwangaje, the district education officer ruled out the possibility of transferring students to schools which were not affected, as earlier proposed, saying most schools in Gisenyi are far apart.

"It would be hard for teachers to reach their students far from their respective schools. That is why we are putting our efforts in the temporary classrooms,” she said.

Innocent Mugwaneza, one of the victims in Gisenyi town, said they urgently need help.

"We are currently living under terrible conditions.  All iron sheets were swept away by the wind, I managed to get one plastic sheeting  which I use to cover one room. I shifted all my belongings there where I live with my wife and three children,” he said.

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