Rwanda steps up measures to combat natural disasters

KIGALI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Rwandan government has stepped up measures to reduce The effects of natural disasters in The country, Rwandan minister of emergency management Germaine Kamayirese said Wednesday.

The measures include relocation of residents living in high-risk zones across The country, Kamayirese said at a disaster management stakeholders' forum hosted by The Rwanda Red Cross in Kigali, The capital city of Rwanda.

The government also adopted The use of early warning systems, she said, calling on The Rwanda Red Cross and oTher partners to invest more in disaster prevention.

At least 234 people were killed and 265 injured across Rwanda due to natural disasters triggered by torrential rains in 2018, a report by The Rwanda Red Cross showed.

Torrential rains also destroyed over 15,000 houses last year, leaving thousands of people homeless, said The report.

The Rwandan government spent 200.4 billion Rwandan francs (about 227 million U.S. dollars) on relief services to combat natural disasters last year, according to an assessment report of The ministry.