By JOHNSON KANAMUGIRE

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At least 165 people have been killed, 5,001 homes and 4,836 hectares of land under crop destroyed by floods across the country since April 1.

According preliminary report by the Ministry of Emergency Management, floods took heavy toll on infrastructure and farming.

However, the government said officials are still assessing economic impact of adverse rains.
Emergency Management Ministry said 172 people were injured while 9,251 displaced.

The government is currently focusing on meeting emergency needs of the affected people.
The preliminary reports further show that 36 roads and 28 bridges were destroyed in different parts of the country.

Water treatment plants and water supply systems have been damaged with costs estimated at approximately Rwf4 billion.

Like roads and crop fields, water treatment plants, distribution networks and power lines were among the most affected by rains, leaving many users disconnected.

Debris and mudslides in river waters had a bearing on utility services as production at water, and hydropower plants was hampered.

Donath Harerimana, director general and transmission development at Rwanda Energy Group said the utility firm had restored services in areas where infrastructures were destroyed.

“We have undertaken a study examining what needs to be done to strengthen power poles on unstable slopes. We think that it is something that in in our means at the moment,” he said.

The government is also working towards restoring service at Shyira Hospital, a major referral health facility in the remote Nyabihu District where services were paralysed after rains cut road, power and water access supply services at standstill.

The US embassy recently contributed Rwf47 Million providing emergency relief supplies to households affected most by floods and heavy rains in the country.