Government relocates people from disaster-prone areas

Natural disasters have claimed 26 people, and destroyed 205 hectares of farmland in different parts of the country over the last two months, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs announced yesterday. During the special task force meeting Rubavu and Rusizi districts in the Western Province and Rwamagana in the Eastern Province were mentioned as most affected.The taskforce is made up of officials from the ministries of local government, defence, agriculture, infrastructure, natural resources and disaster management. The meeting was convened days after heavy rains this week left 15 people dead around the country. These included a family of four that perished in Gikondo, a Kigali suburb as well as destruction of crops and property. “We do not only want to give support, but also come up with mechanisms through which we shall use to effectively minimize the loss,” the Minister of Disaster Management, Marcel Gatsinzi said. The taskforce came into effect after calls to align line ministries to jointly address disaster effects especially in Rubavu and Rusizi. The meeting discussed the responsibilities of each ministry in mitigating and protecting the population and putting in place preventive measures.Poor infrastructure was cited as the cause of most damage in the recent heavy rains, which pounded different parts of the country on Tuesday, Wednesday. In only one sector of Bugarama, Rusizi district, it was reported that over 400 houses were destroyed.The rains have displaced families and information from the ministry indicates that plans are underway to relocate affected families. In addition, the government has allocated Rwf15m for immediate assistance to help 439 families in Rubavu and Rusizi district. “This support is just to give those who were affected a starting point as we also plan for the families to get new homes in areas that are safe,” said Frederic Ntawukuriryayo, the PR and communication officer at the Ministry of Disaster management.

National

Government relocates people from disaster-prone areas