Close to 1,500 families in Shingiro Sector, Musanze District currently living in uncompleted structures, have called on the local government to help them complete their houses.

The residents, who are presently constructing new homes under the anti- Nyakatsi programme, have appealed to the district authorities to avail them with bricks and clay.

The residents claim that the volcanic soils in Shingiro cannot be used to mould bricks nor blended to construct mud and wattle houses.

"We get clay from Mudende Sector in Rubavu (District), each truck costs Rwf 70,000 plus the cost of stones, which is beyond our means. That’s why we are living in open houses, we brave chilly weather and rain everyday,” Leonard Nizeyimana, a resident of Shingiro lamented.

According to the Sector Executive Secretary, Aimable Iyakaremye, 30 percent of the area’s residents are classified under the very poor category, adding that although the government had provided them with iron sheets, they need more support.

"We face wild animals which attempt to enter our houses at night; children are affected by the coldness. We are appealing for help to complete our houses,’’ Simoni Ndikumana pleaded.

Reacting to their woes recently, the Governor, Aime Bosenibamwe, said the authorities would intervene but that it was everybody’s responsibility to urgently address the issue.