A total of 5,513 schoolchildren who were affected by recent disasters in Northern, Western, and Southern provinces have been granted school fees and support as part of relief efforts.
The disasters, which occurred on May 2-3, resulted in the destruction of 33 schools, disrupting the education of numerous children.
During a press conference on Thursday, the Minister in charge of emergency management, Marie Solange Kayisire, announced that all affected children had returned to school. They were provided with a sum of Rwf24.7 million in school fees, along with necessary school materials and clothing.
In addition, temporary Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) were established at evacuation sites to ensure continued education for the affected children.
“Our priority is to provide a nurturing environment for these children, and currently, 1,610 of them are benefiting from the temporary ECDs, receiving nutritious food to combat stunting and malnutrition,” stated Minister Kayisire.
To date, a total of 7,620 individuals from 1,826 families are being housed in 25 evacuation centers, as compared to the initial 20,326 individuals from 5,159 families accommodated in 93 centers.
Minister Kayisire also mentioned that special assistance was offered to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable populations.
Dr. Yvan Butera, the State Minister in the Ministry of Health, highlighted the efforts undertaken to address hygiene, sanitation, and medical needs, particularly for children with malnutrition issues who were at risk of contracting diseases.
For example, in Rubavu district, 175 community health workers were immediately deployed to two evacuation centers, Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle and Kanyefurwe, to screen children under the age of five for malnutrition and provide urgent support.
“We are ensuring that children receive necessary vaccinations and have access to temporary healthcare facilities for any potential illnesses. Furthermore, mosquito nets have been distributed to prevent malaria transmission,” explained Dr. Butera.
The government has announced a requirement of Rwf296 billion to implement a comprehensive disaster recovery plan, which aims to address the long-term impact of the recent disasters and provide assistance to affected communities.