KIGALI, May 11 (Xinhua) -- As heavy downpour has left over 100 people dead and property destroyed, the Rwandan government has embarked on emergency relief efforts to support the victims, Rwandan Prime minister Edouard Ngirente said Friday.
The government has intensified efforts to help people with emergencies and evacuate vulnerable communities from disaster risks, said Ngirente.
The government continues to provide basic assistance to the population of various areas across the country affected by disasters resulting from heavy rains, he said.
According to him, from the beginning of this year, the government has provided iron roofing worth over 164,930 U.S. dollars and 233,943 dollars of basic utensils.
He noted that the government has strengthened efforts to cope with the impacts of the worst rains and floods hit the country in the past few years and to meet long term solutions to the disasters.
Early this week, Ngirente together with several Rwanda cabinet members and other government officials visited areas most hit by rainfall disasters which include the districts of Karongi, Rutsiro, Rubavu, Ngororero, Nyabihu in Western province, and Gakenke and Burera districts in Northern Province.
According to figures from the Rwandan Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, at least 183 people were killed and 215 others were injured in Rwanda by disasters triggered by heavy rains in the first four months of 2018.
Disasters damaged 4,560 hectares of crops and destroyed 9,974 houses, 58 roads, seven churches, 42 bridges and 705 livestock lost their lives to disasters, according to the ministry.
