A week ago, the government relocated up to 6,000 people who were living in wetlands and other high-risk zones dwellings in different parts of the country. Some of the evacuees have been temporarily lodged in public facilities like schools as a more permanent solution is being sought. Others were given allowances equivalent to a month’s rent to go and seek residence somewhere else, while others have been taken in by benevolent families. The heavy downpour that ravaged different parts of the country on Christmas night, mainly in Kigali has left many wondering what could have been the extent of the damage, had the evacuations not been done last week. The rain in Kigali city went up to 140 millimeters whereas it ordinarily ranges between 20 and 24 millimeters. Still, 12 people lost their lives and at least 113 houses were destroyed countrywide. Government, through the Ministry of Emergency Management, had earlier reported that from January to October, 70 people died due to disasters, 177 injured and 267 domestic animals were also gone. This therefore shows the emergence of the situation, with the weatherman uncertain over the precise predictability of rains in the next few days. Secondly, many people evacuated during last week’s operation are hosted in schools, yet schools are set to open on January 6, which is in about 10 days. “We are making all effort to ensure no households remain in schools. That was an emergency plan but we are still helping them to get a better place,” City Mayor Pudence Rubingisa said during a joint press conference held at City Hall yesterday. Among those who had been evacuated to schools in Nyarugenge district, Rubingisa said, 200 families have since been relocated to better housing units. Others are still there but will soon be relocated as schools are about to kick-off, he added. Illegal beneficiaries Meanwhile, the mayor warned those who illegally seek monthly allowances that are given to those who have been evacuated. “We are now being careful in the provision of services because we have experienced cases where people would spend nights in tents and classrooms as a means to illegally get the allowances that they are not supposed to get,” he said. As part of the emergency plan, families were being given between Rwf30,000 and 60,000 to rent in safer places, but the facility, according to officials, was being abused by some individuals. Local Government Minister Anastase Shyaka said that they are going to find a way to relocate evacuees urgently but have a plan to build for them homes that he said should be ready by March. “We shall keep catering to them even as schools kick-off. In case the emergency persists, we shall speak with our education counterparts to delay the beginning of the school term for a week as we seek for alternative solutions,” Shyaka said. However, Shyaka warned people who are taking advantage of citizens who were evacuated from high-risk areas to push their “selfish political agenda”. “We are aware of what has been going where some people hide behind politics to take advantage of the vulnerable people’s predicament. If need be, legal action is going to be taken,” he said. “There are people who bribe evacuees to go back in the rumble of demolished houses to be taken videos that are later used to get attention on social media or make money from YouTube through reporting sensationalist news.” Meanwhile, officials said that in total, up to 16,000 Rwandans still reside in high-risk zones and need to be evacuated.
