The government plans to relocate 100 households from areas prone to disasters in Muzo Sector, Gakenke District this year, according to Faustin Munyazikwiye, Deputy Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). Gakenke is among the districts most prone to natural disasters and is expected to receive some of the highest rainfall levels. ALSO READ: Ten key measures in place to save people in over 500 disaster hotspots Vestine Mukandayisenga, Mayor of Gakenke District, said the housing project is a collaboration between REMA, Rwanda Housing Authority and the District. “This is an integrated settlement project called Kagano in Muzo Sector. Out of the 354 housing units planned for the entire village, 64 were completed last year and are already occupied,” she said. The mayor said another 100 housing units are expected to be completed this year, she said. “This project is not only about constructing housing units. It also involves building agricultural terraces to help protect the environment. Environmental conservation activities are taking place in both Muzo and Muyongwe sectors,” she said. The project is set to run for three years, from 2024 to 2026. ALSO READ: Weather warning: Heavy rain anticipated in Kigali, two provinces Solomon Niyonizera, a resident who was relocated through the project, said he no longer worried about natural disasters as that they have been resettled in a safe and well-planned area. “Where we used to live, whenever it rained at night, we had to look for safer places to stay because of the risk of flooding and at one point, floods swept away half of my house,” Niyonizera said. “Today, when it rains, we feel safe. We sleep peacefully because there are proper drainage systems and lightning protection poles,” Niyonizera added. He said the road to the village also needs to be built to facilitate mobility. ALSO READ: Gakenke landslides demolish 26 houses, destroy crops Adeodatus Manirarema, a resident who is set to be relocated in the coming days, said his current house is on the verge of collapse due to frequent damage caused by heavy rains. “We will be very fortunate if we are relocated,” said Manirarema, who lives with his wife, their eight children, and two grandchildren. “Every night, I go to bed with fear that the house might collapse on me and my family.”
