Residents in Rwamagana District donated food items to victims of a recent storm. Heavy rains and storms destroyed thousands of hectares of crops in most parts of the district last week.

Damascene Nyirigira, a resident of Karenge Sector, told The New Times that the affected population in several villages needed assistance to pull through to next season’s harvest.

"We have a moral obligation to give them food. Our sector was not affected by the storms. That is why we managed to collect such huge aid for the victims,” Nyirigira,  said yesterday.

The victims praised their neighbours’ move.
One victim, Claude Ndayisenga, recalled that in the past, victims of natural calamities relied entirely on government and NGOs for survival.

"I am astonished by our communities’ change of attitude...this is the first of its kind, where we get food from our neighbouring sectors. The aid can be a benchmark of the level of unity and reconciliation in the country.”

According to district Mayor Nehimie Uwimana, mobilising the population was simple because many volunteers came with food and other items.

He said that this would maintain them as more sustainable aid is mobilised.

The storm victims also received iron sheets from aid organisations.

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