The Head of Government was speaking in Kigali Friday at a press briefing about the disaster management in Rwanda.
The briefing follows earlier this week’s visit by the Premier and other cabinet membersn to districts of Karongi, Rutsiro, Rubavu, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Gakenke and Burera as the districts that have largely been affected by recent heavy rains.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), 183 people have been killed by disasters since January to April 30.
The majority of disaster victims in Rwanda are people living in high risk zone. Taking an example of the last weekend, eighteen out of 28 victims of the downpour across the country were from Rwankuba Sector of Karongi District where the landslides on the upland killed the 18, injured seven and destroyed 29 houses.
MIDIMAR reports that 1,201 houses were destroyed and 4,130 were damaged across the country since January to April 30.
According to Ngirente, Rwanda and the region experienced disasters caused by heavy rains that were not expected.
In the conference, Ngirente said that the government is always prepared for responding to disaster effects.
“The government does not wait for disasters to happen, the national budget has money for good settlements,” he explained.
Ngirente said that before the disasters started early this year, the government had assessed a total of 40,000 families to relocate from high risk zones and the resources had been in place. He said that the disasters increased the numbers due to new areas which were also affected.
“I would like to assure all Rwandans that the government plans to steadily settle all residents safely. Sustainably, there is an existing settlement programme and IDP Models which are being constructed in all districts, we are trying to construct durable houses. We will continue to invest in this programme and every year’s national budget will include the funding for the programme,” he said.
Ngirente said that the government continues to provide basic assistance to the population of various areas affected by disasters.
From the beginning of this year, he said the government has provided Rwf141 million for buying construction materials, over Rwf200 million for basic utensils and over Rwf5 million for direct support to families who lost their members in disasters.
He said that the government does not want to see any victim of disasters, the reason they will continue to use few resources in relocating people from high risk zones.
Ngirente reminded that the government does not construct for people, but they help them along the construction process. He said that they support the most disadvantaged people and provide others with plots on credit in places designed for human settlement and pay accordingly at a favorable cost.
IDP model village was initiated in Rwanda in 2010 to promote proper human settlement in rural areas.
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