Nsengiyumva was speaking yesterday in a post-cabinet conference, at the office of the Prime Minister which was detailing measures taken to deal with recent disasters caused by heavy rain and flooding.
The Cabinet Meeting on Wednesday resolved to strengthen efforts to mitigate natural disasters in the long term with special emphasis on environmental protection, infrastructure development and maintenance, organized settlement as well as improved agriculture practices.
Nsengiyumva said that the heavy rains damaged crops and claimed over 180 lives.
“We estimated the value of damaged properties and established that they are over Rwf4 billion, this is a serious problem to people who have been affected,” he said.
He said that the government will establish ways to support those whose crops were damaged and left in critical situation.
“We will support families through government’s disaster relief emergency’s fund, we have foods stuffs like maize and beans which we use to support them through the partnership with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs and Districts. The fund currently has over 7000 metric tonnes of maize and over 4000 tonnes of beans,” he explained.
According to the Minister of Environment, Dr. Vincent Biruta, heavy rains continue until May 10th this year in some parts of the country and urged people to be aware of the weather forecast.
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