In the last two weeks, several hurricanes have been whipping the eastern shores of the United States and Caribbean islands. It is a cycle of disasters that they have grown used to to the extent that they call it ‘Hurricane season”.

In Rwanda we have our own rainy season that always leaves behind a violent imprint in its path. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed since the beginning of the season, early August. Fortunately, the death toll is low, still in single digits.

The disaster has now affected 15 districts and still counting. What is most commendable with our disaster mitigating bodies is that over the years they have built capabilities to respond quickly.

Right now teams are already on the ground to come to the aid of the stricken population but the resources are still low. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees Affairs (MIDIMAR) has designed a Disaster Response Fund that is still going through procedures.

The way things are at the moment, releasing disaster funds is a bureaucratic nightmare so once the fund is in place it will be a welcome relief for first responders. So the first priority for MIDIMAR is to speed up the creation of the fund that will begin with an initial one billion Francs.

While it is still on the design table, the Disaster Response Fund will ease the burden for many. Local response units lack the necessary equipment to the extent that when a major landslide occurs, especially in the northern and western provinces, heavy excavation equipment has to be shipped all the way from Kigali or the nearest road construction site.

The fund should therefore empower districts to be prepared with all the necessary requirements at hand.