Hundreds of flood victims need emergency aid

KIGALI - Hundreds of displaced victims of the weekend floods in Rubavu District are still waiting for basic emergency aid like tents and food, The New Times reports.

Friday, May 21, 2010
Flood victims of Musanze district fleeing their homes with their property. (Photo; B. Mukombozi)

KIGALI - Hundreds of displaced victims of the weekend floods in Rubavu District are still waiting for basic emergency aid like tents and food, The New Times reports.

About eleven people were reported dead while hundreds were displaced by the floods in Rubavu, Nyabihu and Rutsiro in Western province and Musanze District in Northern part of the country.

Speaking to The New Times, the Mayor of Rubavu, Sheikh Hassan Bahame, said that the district had no means to cater for the victims.  

"We don’t have any money as a district to help since our focus has been on people who were evacuated from Gishwati and Rubavu hills,” Bahame said.

According to the vice Mayor in charge Social Affairs, Nyabihu District, Eugenie Mukamunana, more than 500 people were displaced and currently lack food and shelter.

"Since the disaster, we are yet to receive emergency aid, either from the central government or humanitarian organisations”

"We have hope that the government will intervene as it’s needed urgently,” Mukamunana said.  

In Rubavu, landslides triggered by floods destroyed Nyundo Health Centre and left more than 600 people displaced.

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