The Netherlands and UNICEF have donated four vehicles to support district teams in the implementation of water supply and sanitation programmes aimed at contributing towards the achievement of the country’s MDGs.

Four vehicles were officially handed over to the mayors of Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu and Rubavu districts yesterday by Joseph Foumbi, the UNICEF Country Representative in a function held in Gikondo Industrial Park. A fifth vehicle was given to the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Speaking at the event, Foumbi said that the vehicles would be used to monitor the implementation of community-driven water and sanitation projects in the specified districts to improve access to safe water and sanitation to at last half a million people by 2013.

"Improving basic hygiene is paramount, as diarrhoea remains one of the leading killers of children under five years and because 80% of all the preventable diseases that affect Rwandans are waterborne,” Foumbe said.

He also commended the both the Rwandan and the Netherlands government for their partnership in implementing projects that empower children and women and improve their standards of living.

"Equitable access to clean water is a key human right, which the Ministry of Infrastructure has made a reality in the country,” He added.

The Coordinator of Rwanda Water and Sanitation Sector in MININFRA, James Sano, said that the cars had been procured in time when the water projects are targeting schools and health centre as well as very remote communities.

"The vehicles will enable the various project personnel and teams to follow-up the implementation of projects in several parts of the country and also improve coordination and efficiency,” Sano said.

Earlier this year, UNICEF donated 61 motorcycles to the same project.

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