Rwanda Seeks $86 Million in Climate Disaster Aid After 899 Deaths Since 2022

The Government of Rwanda has submitted an $86.2 million funding proposal to the Global Shield against Climate Risks to strengthen emergency response and disaster preparedness in vulnerable areas, AllAfrica reported. €10 million of the submitted proposal has already been approved, Maj. Gen.

(Rtd) Albert Murasira, the minister in charge of emergency management, said. Rwanda joined the initiative in 2024.

Rwanda conducted a Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance assessment that identified financing gaps and led to the request for pre-arranged disaster financing. The government is also working with the World Bank on a $141 million Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option and the Contingency Emergency Response Project. In 2026 the government relocated 4,785 households from high-risk zones.

It has resettled 5,095 households whose homes were destroyed by disasters in 2023. Lightning protection systems have been installed at public gathering places in Rutsiro and Ngororero. Rwanda has established 14 emergency evacuation sites and relief warehouses in Kigali, Musanze, Kayonza and Karongi.

Nearly 4,000 people have completed disaster preparedness training. A 24/7 National Emergency Command Centre is now operational, and nine of 28 district command posts have been equipped. A Risk Governance Assessment identified 18,417 elements at risk with an overall resilience rating of 46 per cent.

Places of worship accounted for 4,125 of those elements, followed by 3,270 education institutions and 2,186 markets and commercial buildings. Between 2022 and 2026 disasters claimed 899 lives and injured 1,800 people, according to the national disaster impact dashboard. Lightning caused 318 deaths, mining accidents 160, floods 159 and landslides 137.