BUJUMBURA September 20th (ABP) – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), organized on Monday, September 18, 2023, in Bujumbura, a meeting to take stock of the results, good practices and lessons learned from the Tubehoneza project implemented by IOM, in collaboration with the Government of Burundi, through the national platform for risk prevention and disaster management. The said project was launched in 2020 and aimed to reduce the risks of natural disasters in Burundi.
On that occasion, the Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Safety, Martin Ninteretse recalled that for the last two decades, the world has been experiencing extreme weather phenomena which are increasing in number and intensity, the effects of which become more and more devastating.
Located both in central and southern Africa, he indicated, Burundi is exposed to a varied typology of natural disaster risks reflected by major hazards including floods, landslides, violent winds, earthquakes, water deficit and hail.
Mr. Niteretse also indicated that the government of Burundi appreciates the key achievements of the Tubehoneza project which leaves a visible impact in the communities and beneficiary structures.
He cited as an illustration the multi-risk mapping which made it possible to better understand the major risks by administrative entity, the average annual losses due to natural hazards which were the subject of analysis and the list of the 50 municipalities at highest risk. of natural disasters, institutional support leading to the improvement of provincial and municipal contingency plans, the capacity to assess risks and vulnerability, as well as the rehabilitation of ravines in destruction in different localities.
He called on all sectors of national life to make use of multi-risk mapping, a valuable tool for planning and decision-making and recommended to provincial governors to ensure regular maintenance of the works rehabilitated within the framework of the implementation of the said project.
In turn, the Mayor of the city of Bujumbura, Jimmy Hatungimana announced that the average annual loss due to major climatic hazards is estimated at 92 million US dollars for the entire national territory and 33 million US dollars for the Bujumbura town hall. In addition, the three communes of Bujumbura town hall occupy first place on the list of 50 communes in the country at highest risk. The mayor of the city also appreciated the rehabilitation work on a large ravine which was being destroyed in the Gasekebuye district of the Muha commune, as part of the implementation of this project.
However, according to him, the town hall has many other critical points requiring particular attention in terms of mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. To this end, he asked the IOM, the European Union and other partners to combine efforts to support the protection of public and private infrastructure against climatic hazards.
The IOM Chief of Mission, Mrs. Vijaya Souri, noted that this day marked the culmination of more than three years of intensive work that will change the way the administration as well as humanitarian actors and partners in development operate in Burundi.
According to her, the impacts of natural disaster risks are increasingly felt by the inhabitants of Burundi, who often lose their lives, their land, their homes, their income-generating activities when disasters occur. These disasters are also the cause of the vast majority of internal displacements in the country, almost 90%, according to data from the displacement monitoring matrix, dating from last May, she reported. She affirmed that the project was a reality and a success for the benefit of many Burundians.
The “Tubehoneza” project, launched in 2020, ended on September 18, 2023.