Senators have rolled out a campaign aimed at better understanding conditions in which victims of a recent earthquake which hit the districts of Nyamasheke and Rusizi, Western Province are living.

The initiative seeks to know what is lacking on the ground, and how various institutions and individuals can assist to address the problems.

The lawmakers made the decision on Tuesday during a session dedicated to the problems facing the victims of two earthquakes which hit the districts last month leaving close to forty people dead.

The tremors also damaged 36 churches, 1,200 houses and schools, and drove hundreds of thousands out of their homes. The Government estimates the damages to be over Frw5 billion.

Senator Odette Nyiramirimo, the Vice Chairperson of the Senatorial Standing Committee on Social Affairs, said that despite Government efforts to address the problem, victims still faced stiff challenges.

"The problems range from lack of enough shelters, clothing, food, to health facilities which need to be addressed immediately to improve their standards of living,” she said.
"It is our role as senators to dig up more information on the state of affairs in those districts,” Dr Vincent Biruta, the President of the Senate said.

Nyiramirimo added that the relief aid provided by the Government, and donor and charity agencies had helped the victims but that more still needed to be done.
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