ReliefWeb

On 6th and 7th December 2019, extensive floods were observed along Nyabarongo river and its affluents in Ngororero district, damaging crops in Matyazo, Muhanda, Shyira and Kabaya sectors with maximum recorded rainfall at 60.8mm. For Gisagara district, four sectors were affected, namely Mamba, Gishubi, Kansi and Muganza, with maximum recorded rainfall at 35.6mm. In Rusizi district, the sectors of Bugarama Butare, Gitambi, Gikundamvura, Muganza, Mkungu and Nyakabuye were affected with maximum recorded rainfall at 44.9mm. According to the initial assessments conducted by the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and Rwanda Red Cross Society (RRCS) on 7-9 December, it is estimated that approximately 5,360 people (1,072 households) have been affected as a result of these floods. Sixteen people were reported to have died and 33 were injured. In addition, a total of 1,016 hectares of crops grown up in the marshlands and the swamps near the rivers were damaged and, in most cases, completely destroyed. Three water supply systems in Rusizi District (one in Gitambi and 2 in Muganza sectors) were also destroyed. (IFRC, 3 Jan 2020)

Heavy rain continued to affect central Rwanda (particularly the Kigali and the Southern Provinces) over the past 72 hours, triggering floods and mudslides. Media report, 19 fatalities (14 in the capital Kigali and 5 in southern provinces). Media report 8 injured people, 98 houses destroyed, 3 roads and 2 bridges damaged. Over the next 24 hours, more rain and thunderstorms are forecast over the whole country, with locally heavy rain over the Kigali and southern provinces. (ECHO, 5 Feb 2020)

Since the beginning of November 2019, Rwanda has increasingly experienced heavy rains, affecting most parts of the country. As a result, many rivers across the country received huge levels of rainwater and overflew along their courses, causing flooding in Ngororero, Nyabihu, Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts in Western province, Musanze and Rulindo districts in Northern Province, and Gisagara district in Southern province. In December 2019 3,000 people were estimated to have been in evacuation centres and most of them still do not have shelter due to the disaster. More recently, from 3rd to 5th of March 2020, extensive flooding and windstorm were registered in Gisagara District and observed in other districts including Gasabo in Kigali City, Gisagara, Ngoma and Nyagatare District in Eastern Province. This led to extensive destruction of houses and crops...According to the initial assessments conducted by the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and Rwanda Red Cross Society (RRCS) from 3rd to 5th March, it is estimated that approximately 5,220 people (1,044 households) have been affected as a result of these floods and accompanying windstorm. (IFRC, 14 Mar 2020)