GASABO - The Government has earmarked Frw5 billion for reconstruction in the Western Province which was hit by a strong 5.0 magnitude earthquake early this year.

The Coordinator of the National Disaster Preparedness Unit in the Prime Minister’s office, Erum Karara, revealed Friday said that priority would be given to the rehabilitation of hospitals and schools.

"We have managed to earmark Frw5 billion out of Frw6.5 billion budgeted for the whole rehabilitation exercise of the damaged property,” Karara confirmed.

The emergency efforts from government and other humanitarian agencies have enabled 2,388 affected families to get temporary shelters like tents.

School children of Nkombo and Shangi Primary and Secondary Schools have got temporary tent structures which serve as schools.

Regarding the number of seriously injured people who were rushed to hospitals countrywide, he said that 643 people have since been discharged.

Only two are still being treated at Kigali Central University Hospital (CHUK) and Gihundwe Hospital in Rusizi District, Western Province.

The quake claimed the lives of at least 38 people in Rwanda and six in the DR Congo. Over 30,000 school children were affected when the earthquake destroyed their school buildings.

The national disaster preparedness unit opened a bank account in the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), on which members of the public can bank any financial assistance to disaster victims.

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