Climate-related disasters killed 150 in Rwanda over 9 months: Report

KIGALI, Rwanda

At least 150 people were killed and 300 injured in disasters induced by climate change in Rwanda in the past nine months of this year, a report by the Emergency Management Ministry said on Thursday.

The disasters that wreaked havoc in different parts of the country included floods, landslides, windstorms and rainstorms among others, the report said, adding that 1,033 incidents were recorded in the said period.

The calamities also destroyed 3,378 houses, 1,631 hectares of crops and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, classrooms and power lines.

The most hit areas in terms of deaths were western and southern Rwanda.

The fatalities caused by disasters increased from 100 registered between January and September last year.

The number of injuries, meanwhile, climbed from 195 recorded during the same period in 2021.

Last month, the Rwanda Meteorological Agency forecast floods, landslides, strong winds and other extreme weather-related events in some parts of the country during the last three months of this year, despite reduced rainfall.

A World Bank report released last week warned that climate change effects could erode between 5% and 7% of Rwanda’s GDP by 2050 if not mitigated and lessened.

The Rwanda Country Climate Development Report showed that while contributing only 0.003% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Rwanda is vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.

Climate change is likely to increase variability in crop yields and agricultural production, cause severe floods and reduce labor productivity, according to the study.