18^th August 2021 - During the session held at Intare Arena, the Director General of the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), Prime Ngabonziza, urged Rwandan youth dubbed "Indahangarwa" to help combat soil erosion before the rainy season kicks off.

Through community mobilization and education on the various catchment restoration projects developed and implemented by youth through youth platforms such as youth volunteers, Itorero, youth clubs, and environmental clubs, the addressed youth shall provide support to unconventional soil erosion control methods.

“One of the major causes of floods and other water-related disasters observed across the country, particularly during rainy seasons, is soil erosion.” "Addressing soil erosion strengthens resilience against a variety of disasters," says Ngabonziza.

Currently, RWB has conducted a countrywide soil erosion assessment using the Catchment Restoration Opportunity Mapping Decision Support System (CROM-DSS) which is a GIS model developed to support decision making on catchment restoration.

Areas exposed to soil erosion are classified into categories depending on level of severity: extremely high risk, very high risk, high risk, moderate risk, low risk, and no risk zones of erosion, and the initiative resulted into soil erosion mapping covering 1,064,799 hectares.

Water-related disasters are predictable as the rainy season begins. “ Indahangarwa”  are encouraged to contribute to national preparedness by delivering the following messages to the general public:

• Residents living near swamp wetland to reallocate to safer areas;

• It is critical to dwell near major gullies, ravines and water drainage;

• Citizens are urged to report any threats to the community's safety and well-being to local authorities;

• Harvest water from the roofs and appropriately convey excess rainwater;

• Avoid living in extreme and very steep slopes rather it is encouraged to rent houses in safe locations;

• Citizens are urged to monitor flood-prone areas and report to local authorities;

• It is important to maintain soil erosion control, planting fixing grasses and agroforestry trees;

• Citizens are urged to tighten roofs so that houses can withstand strong winds as recommended by MINEMA as well as desilting of water ways;

• Citizens are encouraged to always refer to the weather forecast and weather advisories issued by Meteo Rwanda to take informed decisions;

• It is forbidden to encroach buffers of rivers and lakes with no permitted land practices or constructions particularly home buildings;

• It is forbidden to cross rivers, streams and ravines during rainfall;

• Comply with lightning safety measures;

• Specifically, in the City of Kigali, much efforts should be put in the following:

- Regular community cleaning in their respective areas and avoid dumping wastes in inappropriate areas;

- Rainwater harvesting and maintenance of storm water management structures (water pits, anti-erosion trenches and water channels, etc.);

- Carrying out community mobilization, encouraging the population to put together their own means to solve issues related to soil erosion and flooding in their community;

- Conducting an assessment of households located in high risk zones to identify those most likely to be affected by disasters.