BURUNDI: Heavy rains leave more than 1,000 homeless in Bubanza

Photo: Judith Basutama/IRIN

A house damaged during past floods: Heavy rains have destroyed 214 homes and left about 1,070 people without shelter in Gihanga (file photo)

BUJUMBURA, 23 October 2009 (IRIN) - Heavy rains have destroyed 214 homes, leaving about 1,070 people without shelter in Gihanga commune, western Bubanza province.

Crops were also destroyed. “The worst hit is Village 5 where 104 houses were destroyed and crops of cassava, beans and maize were completely damaged,” Gordien Kanjori, administrator of Gihanga commune, told IRIN.

Zacharie Nzoyisaba from Village 5 told IRIN: “I am living in difficult conditions; my roof of iron sheets has collapsed. Our stores of food are like mud because of the harsh rains; our future is dark as more rains are to come. The government should rush to rescue us before we die.”

Spéciose Habonimana, a widow, whose small house was destroyed in the April rains, was in despair. “I had sought shelter at my son’s but his house was destroyed during this week’s rains; its walls are completely destroyed. I am very old and cannot farm. Even my children who are feeding me are in difficulty; I do not know what I shall do.”

Most of the people affected have sought shelter in public buildings and with households not destroyed by the rains. “In Village 5, affected families have sought shelter in nearby churches and schools; others are sheltered by their neighbours who were lucky not to have their houses destroyed by the rains,” Kanjori said.

The worst hit is Village 5 where 104 houses were destroyed and crops of cassava, beans and maize were completely damaged

The villagers have not yet received any assistance since the rains hit Gihanga on 20 October.

A delegation of Ministry of National Solidarity officials, led by the director of the repatriation department, Chantal Hatungimana, is in Gihanga to assess the needs of the destitute families. She pledged to mobilize senior officials of the ministry so that relief can reach the affected urgently.

According to Kanjori, iron sheeting was the biggest need. “We call on the ministry to bring iron sheets. The ones that were on the houses were so damaged they cannot be re-used. Residents would find it hard to buy the iron sheets themselves as they are expensive,” he said, adding that houses with thatch roofing also needed iron sheeting, as the grass for thatching had been burned.

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