IRIN
RWANDA: Flood victims face food insecurity
15 February 2007


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United
Nations]

KIGALI, 15 February 2007 (IRIN) - Hundreds of people in Rwanda's
northwestern region displaced by floods are suffering from food
insecurity, a local government official has said.

"The term 'disaster' cannot really capture the suffering of the people
here," Penelope Kantarama, the governor of Western Province, said on
Wednesday. "The unfolding humanitarian situation must be taken
seriously. If the floods continue to threaten these people, we will have
to seek humanitarian aid from other partners."

She added: "Many of the residents have lost their potatoes, beans and
vegetable plantations. At least 241 people from Bigogwe and Muramba
cells in the same region are particularly vulnerable and 46 other
families are facing hunger."

Although the floodwaters have been receding, residents from the
worst-affected areas fear more rains could aggravate their situation as
they have had only a little help from humanitarian organisations and
local authorities. The displaced lack adequate drinking water, soap,
clothes and medial care.

The floods, in late 2006 and early this year, caused extensive damage to
buildings, household property and crops in the region, submerging at
least 5,000 homes and 3,000 hectares of farmland. The floodwaters caused
the Sebeya River to burst its banks, causing more damage to surrounding
areas.

The region's mayor, Ramadhan Barengayabo, said the floods had killed at
least 24 and displaced more than 2,000 people since December 2006. The
floodwaters also destroyed up to 354 homes in Rubavu and Nyabihu
Districts.

The mountainous northwestern region has the largest number of flood
victims, with the damage to property from the latest floods estimated at
US $122,000.


U N I T E D  N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -