Rwanda

Funding appeals and humanitarian action updates

On Sunday 3 February 2008, a series of earthquakes struck Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The earthquakes affected mainly two districts, Nyamasheke and Rusizi, Western Province, which are at the border of DRC, Bukavu and along Lake Kivu. As churches, homes and public buildings (including one hospital) collapsed, hospital staff are having trouble coping with the hundreds of injured that are pouring in. Figures provided by the Rwandan Disaster Management Task Force (DMTF) indicate that 37 people have died, 643 have been injured, including 367 who are traumatized. Many houses have been destroyed in these two districts and 1,201 families have been rendered homeless. Twenty primary schools are reported to be affected in both districts; one was destroyed and 19 have suffered structural damage. Four secondary schools have also been damaged. The Government reported that 212 classrooms need to be reconstructed and 113 have to be repaired. All affected primary and secondary schools have been closed. UNICEF and its partners are responding in the areas of health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, child protection, shelter and non-food items and coordination. To meet the immediate and medium-term needs of children and women throughout the affected areas UNICEF is requesting an initial amount of US$ 2,245,284.
Rwanda Immediate Needs Document 14 Feb 2008 [pdf]