Rwanda endorses urgent relief to disaster-affected communities

The Cabinet meeting on Monday, May 8, approved an emergency response plan aimed at reinforcing efforts to provide urgent relief to communities affected by disasters, and instructed concerned institutions to implement the plan without delay, according to a Communiqué issued by the Office of the Prime Minister. This was one of the decisions of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting that was chaired by President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village, to discuss the Government's response following the recent floods and landslides that affected parts of Western, Northern and Southern provinces. ALSO READ: Disaster recovery: What is the fate of over 9,000 displaced people? According to the meeting's Communiqué, the Cabinet also approved the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policy. Data from the Ministry of Emergency Management indicated that the flood and landslide-induced disasters which occurred on May 2 and May 3, among other damages, killed 131 people in Northern, Western and Southern provinces. ALSO READ: Flood disaster: Death toll climbs to 130, over 5,000 houses swept The Cabinet expressed condolences and sympathy to families who lost loved ones, those injured, and people that had to relocate from their homes due to floods and landslides Also, the Cabinet urged communities in flood-affected areas to exercise caution and be extra vigilant, as more rains may be expected in the coming days. Citizens are requested to follow instructions provided by local authorities including maintaining hygiene and sanitation standards in order to prevent potential disease outbreaks, it reads in part. The Cabinet appreciated messages of condolences and solidarity from Rwandans, friends, and partner states, as well as gestures of support from citizens and various partners. During a budget hearing on May 8, the Rwanda Housing Authority's acting Director General, Noel Nsanzineza, told lawmakers that the disasters on May 2 and May 3 destroyed 3,006 houses and damaged 3,200 others -- bringing the total to 6,206 houses. He said that there was a need to ensure long-term settlements (houses) for the affected families, with the construction of houses that can be 'resilient' to disasters, away from high risk zones. On the required budget, he said that it still is being considered. But he noted that the budget for constructing a house under the Integrated Development program (IDP) model village is between Rwf15 million and Rwf20 million -- indicating that the budget for constructing all the more than 6,000 houses (including those that were completely destroyed and those damaged) would be huge. He estimated that Rwf30 billion was urgently needed for the construction of the 3,006 houses completely ruined as a result of the disasters. ALSO READ: Disasters: Housing Authority needs Rwf30bn to build 3,000 destroyed houses He informed parliamentarians that the Government was working on a transitional mechanism to build temporary facilities in affected districts where the residents in question will be relocated, starting from Rubavu, which was the most hit. To this end, he indicated that they want to build temporary facilities, consisting of setting up about 20 tents at a site called Inyemeramihigo in Rubavu, put in place mobile toilets, and construct kitchens for 1,021 families that are accommodated in school and church buildings in the district. Oher tents will be set up for the provision of other necessities such as basic medical services. Affected families will be offered food, beddings and other necessities in the short term.

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Rwanda endorses urgent relief to disaster-affected communities