The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) has advised residents to fasten their house roofs to reduce vulnerability to disasters.

The advice follows reports that about 241 houses were damaged by rainstorm, last week.

The Tuesday to Thursday disasters destroyed 196 houses in Rwamagana District alone.

Three people were also injured in Gatsibo District, and 55 hectares of crops in Muhanga and Kayonza districts destroyed.

Other affected districts are Gasabo, Rulindo and Kirehe.

Speaking to The New Times on Friday, the Director of Response and Recovery Unit at MIDIMAR, Philippe Habinshuti, said apart from Rulindo District where 21 houses destroyed were in high risk zones, the rest of the houses countrywide were not in high risk zones.

He said many houses had weak roofs blown off owing to lack of trees to break the strong wind.

He urged residents to dig water channels to avoid flooding.

"We are providing items for urgent relief services,” he noted, adding that iron sheets would be provided to the affected residents not later than three months.

On average, he said, each household will receive 30 iron sheets.

"We are also doing an assessment on the affected crops acreage in partnership with Rwanda Agriculture Board to provide the victim with seeds to plant again, so that they do not miss out on the planting season,” he said.

The Vice Mayor for Social Affairs in Rwamagana District, Jeanne Umutoni, said the district leadership is sensitising residents to properly fasten their house roofs because it was realised that the roofs that were blown away were weak.

Last Friday, the affected residents received emergency supplies from MIDIMAR, which consisted of various items including beddings, utensils, among others.

"After the iron sheets and nails are distributed to the disaster victims, the district will cover the cost of labour for the vulnerable people who cannot afford it,” she told The New Times on Friday.

Alphonse Hishamunda, the acting director for risk reduction and disaster preparedness at MIDIMAR, said the ministry has written to heads of disaster management committees at districts and mayors – advising them on how to prevent catastrophic disaster effects.

The ministry asked district mayors to ensure that residents’ houses are resilient to disasters and, trees planted on hills and in valleys to reduce both the intensity of flowing rain water and wind.

"For a long-term strategy, we are focusing on relocating households in high risk zones and scattered settlements to safer zones, because we consider this effective in regards to disaster preparedness,” Hishamunda noted.

This year, the Rwanda Housing Authority, the Ministry of Local Government and MIDIMAR have been carrying out a joint assessment to identify all the households still living in high risk zones and isolated settlements.

The purpose of the exercise, according to Hishamunda, is to make sure that people live in safe zones and houses are strong enough to resist disasters such as torrential rain and strong wind.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw