The visitation was attended by::

Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources. Minister of Natural Resources The Governor in Eastern Province The Secretary General - Minenfra Director General - RADA. Eastern province Army Commander Eastern Province Police Commander Mayor of Kirehe Representatives for Croix Rouge among others

The Minister and other officials at the site.

The storm issue happened on 29/09/2008 in Kirehe District–Eastern province. Areas that affected are Kirehe and Rwesero. About 131 houses collapsed and 12 houses were destroyed in Mushikiri. Also Banana plantations were terribly damaged but these are not final statistics, research is still going on. However, these are not the final findings since the assessment is still going on.

Destroyed houses at Kirehe

One of the Kirehe farmers explained how it happened; they said that heavy winds was the source of this entire problem. Another farmer from Kirehe also said that it was only heavy winds that led to all these damages.

Residents tried to assist each other during this hard situation by repairing some houses where possible and where to spend the night. While responding on this, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources had this to say;

The Minister and other officials in the Banana plantation field.

In the name of the Government after hearing this, we had to come immediately and find out what to do. The Minister also appreciated their cooperation by assisting each other throughout this situation. He said, they are the very people to handle such problems through their capacity like planting as many trees as possible, fighting soil erosion, and then the government can start from there. This kind of problem also affected the People in Ngoma, Nyamasheke and Rusizi.

The Minister addressing the farmers.

The Minister concluded by thanking farmers for having been cooperative and requested them to keep that spirit of working hand in hand with the government

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