1 week Ago By News Ghana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/heavy-rains-kill-52-in-rwanda-as-flood-crisis-intensifies/At least 52 people have died and 107 others were injured in Rwanda during the first half of April due to disasters triggered by relentless heavy rains, officials reported Friday.
Adalbert Rukebanuka, director general of planning and risk reduction at Rwanda’s Ministry of Emergency Management, disclosed that 390 weather-related incidents including landslides, floods, and structural collapses, were recorded between April 1 and 16.“These disasters have destroyed 19 homes entirely and damaged 731 others,” Rukebanuka said during a briefing in Kigali. He emphasized that 522 high-risk zones across the country now threaten approximately 22,000 households, impacting nearly 97,000 residents.
Critical infrastructure, including 117 roads, 23 public facilities, and over 25,000 hectares of crops, also face imminent danger as rains continue.Authorities have prioritized relocating 1,600 families from vulnerable districts such as Rusizi, Rubavu, and Nyamasheke, where flooding risks are acute. To date, 800 households have been moved to safer areas and provided temporary shelter.
The urgency follows devastating floods in May 2023 that killed over 100 people in Western Province, displacing thousands and crippling infrastructure.In response to recurring disasters, Rwanda has accelerated efforts to bolster disaster resilience. Immediate post-flood housing initiatives constructed 904 homes for affected families, while an ongoing Contingency Emergency Response Component project aims to deliver 1,888 additional residences, with 900 already completed.
Rwanda’s escalating climate challenges underscore the broader vulnerability of East African nations to extreme weather patterns. The government’s dual focus on emergency relocation and long-term housing solutions reflects a growing recognition of the need to adapt infrastructure and preparedness systems to mitigate future crises. With climate models predicting increased rainfall variability, the region faces pressing questions about sustainable disaster management in the years ahead.
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/heavy-rains-kill-52-in-rwanda-as-flood-crisis-intensifies/.
