By Gerald Niyirinda
The afflicted communities of Nyarusiza, Muramba sub counties and Bunagana town council in Kisoro district have started receiving relief items from Organizations and well-wishers, after experiencing one of the worst mudslides recorded in the district.
The Mudslides, which occurred on Monday evening, claimed the lives of nine people including five minors.
A report from the Nyarusiza Sub county headquarters indicates that, Hundreds of millions of shillings have been lost in terms of crop yield and infrastructure.
A total of 1,346 residents from Nyarusiza, Muramba sub counties and Bunagana town council yesterday each received 14kgs of Maize flour, 7kgs of Beans, Jerri-cans, washing soap and Mats.
The support from was offered by Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is aimed at helping affected communities get back onto their feet.
Government help comes a few days after State Minister for relief and disaster preparedness Hon. Esther Anyakun visited Nyarusiza and Muramba Sub Counties where she offered 500,000 shillings to each family that lost loved ones, as contribution towards burial expenses.
The Batwa community of Rukeri that was hit with five deaths also received 100kgs of Maize flour and 100kgs of beans from Government.
Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT), a conservation entity working in the areas of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) also managed to focus their relief efforts towards the five grieving Batwa families of Rukeri village.
The families also received100kgs of maize flour, 100kgs of Bean seeds and 50kgs of improved maize seeds.
BMCT programs Officer Clare Kahunzire says it is extreme vital to support such communities with food and seed for planting because the planting season is soon starting and some of the land in the area can still be reclaimed for agriculture.
Kahunzire stressed that, if no immediate interventions are made, these suffering communities will be forced to enter into the protected areas of Mount Mgahinga National Park to look for water and food, which is a huge threat to natural ecological system.
The relief items were distributed at the Nyarusiza Sub County headquarters.
Other groups including Kisoro Concern for Marginalized People Organization also managed to give out 315kgs of Maize flour, 180kgs of beans, 135kgs of groundnuts, two boxes of washing soaps and two boxes of iodized (cooking salt).
These items were distributed to 45 families in Rukeri Batwa community.
Nyarusiza Sub County LCIII chairperson Nyarusiza Erasmus Nsabimana commended Government and other well-wishers who have supported the suffering people of Nyarusiza and Muramba.
He further called on Government to send more relief because many families are still sleeping in makeshift tents and do not have the basic necessities to survive.
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