Editor,

The New Times reported on Thursday that the Disaster preparedness unit is still under-funded and ill equipped.
Do disasters have to first happen for the concerned parties to realise how badly we need to be ready? For example, I think we need to create a fire department in every district of Rwanda.

It’s not easy to predict a disaster; but I believe that being ready for it greatly reduces the impact it would have caused.

On top of that, we have very many areas in Rwanda that are flood prone. Floods, unlike earthquakes, are easier to predict.

So, there must be investment in research about flood prone areas so that people living in those areas can be warned prior to the floods happening so that they can move their families and belongings before the disaster strikes.

A country that is disaster prepared is sometimes more secure than a country that is war prepared.

So, just like the army is beefed up to protect the Rwandan citizen from enemies, the disaster preparedness unit must also be beefed up to protect the citizens from the furies of nature.

David Mutamba
Nyagatare