A report by the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) indicates that over 60 people were killed by disasters from January to April 20, 2023. At least 408 disaster cases were recorded in this period. These include 107 windstorm cases, 66 rainstorms, three mine disasters, 77 lightning cases, seven landslides, 13 house collapses, eight hailstorms, 29 floods as well as 98 fires. It shows that 158 people were injured as 1, 205 houses got damaged. About 600 hectares of crops were destroyed by disasters while 368 livestock were lost. ALSO READ: Farmers affected by hailstorm decry lack of seeds. The report highlights 44 classrooms, 12 sections of roads, five churches, 35 bridges, two administrative buildings, one water supply, 12 electric transmission lines, one market and three factories damaged by the disasters. The most affected districts that recorded many disaster cases include Rusizi, Rubavu, Nyarugenge, Nyanza, Nyamasheke, Ngororero, Musanze, Gicumbi, Gatsibo, Gakenke and Gasabo. The districts of Burera, Gasabo, Gakenke, Gatsibo,Rubavu, Kayonza, have a high number of people who lost lives while others were injured. In terms of crop damages, it shows, the district of Musanze has 399.6 hectares of crops damaged by disasters followed by Nyamagabe where 69 hectares were destroyed. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Hailstorm damages over 200 houses in Musanze. Musanze district also recorded a high number of livestock (240) that died due to disasters. Over 21 bridges out of a total of 35 damaged bridges are located in Musanze district. “The agriculture sector and infrastructure are the most affected,” the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry in charge Emergency Management (MINEMA, Phillipe Habinshuti said on Monday. He urged residents to comply with disaster prevention and construction guidelines to ensure adaption to the effects and relocate from high risk zones. Northern and Western province are the most affected according to the assessment. ALSO READ: Northern Province hit by 1,500 disaster cases over past five years. In the past two months in Northern Province alone, 273 houses and 790 hectares of crops were damaged. In western province, 224 houses and 175 hectares of crops were destroyed. Over the past five years, the Northern Province has experienced at least 1,500 disaster cases, mainly floods and landslides, which have resulted in over 200 fatalities and damaged over 5,000 homes, according to a report released by the ministry in charge of emergency management last week. Floods have also destroyed four health centres, 16 churches, nine administrative offices, and 64 water supply systems, among other infrastructure. In addition, more than 3,000 hectares of crops have been washed away, and over 100 cows and 4,000 small livestock have died. Climate change effects, if not mitigated and lessened, could erode between five and seven per cent of Rwanda’s GDP by 2050, a world bank report released last year warned. During years of severe floods such extreme events are forecast to reduce GDP by an additional 4.4 per cent, the study warns.
