Heavy downpours in the Western Province claimed some lives and left a number of families homeless in the three districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro and Nyabihu.

In Rubavu, at least four people died in a landslide during the March 27 rains and over a dozen were admitted at Gisenyi hospital, but latest reports say that majority have since been discharged.

In the same district, 1,184 houses were destroyed and authorities have relocated the residents from the risky Rubavu Hill.

"We have secured a place for them and distributed tents, but we need national intervention.” Western Provincial Governor, Celestin Kabahizi, said.

Reports from Nyabihu indicate that at least 167 houses were destroyed and 15 families lost virtually everything, while in Rutsiro, 120 houses were destroyed by landslides.

"RECO-RWASCO has agreed to supply free water to the evacuees within a period of one month, but we still need to do more,” Kabahizi added.

Nyundo Health Centre in Rubavu was also affected with the rain destroying the centre’s documents and property. 

According to Martin Bizimana, some of the documents included invoices worth Rwf7m, and without them, it would be difficult for the centre to reclaim its money.

"We cannot work without these documents and the community cannot access healthcare because their insurance documents have all been washed away,” Bizimana added.

Ends