Innocent Gahigana
5 December 2006
Kigali — Rwanda is one of the countries that are under threat from the climatic changes, a new report has said. The report by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) says that inhabitants of Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Niger and Chad face serious threat from the changes in climate.
"Climate change is happening, and it is affecting livelihoods that depend on the natural environnent" the report reads in part. It says that populations in countries prone to prolonged droughts are at higher greater risk. It said that the deteriotating climatic conditions will exacerbate inequities in « health status and access to adequate food, clean water and other resources. »
The report comes short on the heels of a recent international conference on climate change in Nairobi, Kenya, which reached no concrete solutions to the problem.
Speaking to journalists recently, an ILRI official, Mario Herrero, described the situation as alarming.
"It is also alarming because of population density and the degradation of natural resources," he said. Contacted for a comment, Patricia Hajabakiga, the State Minister for Lands and Environment, confirmed the looming natural hazard.
"Yes we are experiencing climatic changes, and we are already witnessing a rise in temperature in areas around (former) Kibungo and Ruhengeri (provinces). This has led to high cases of malaria in those areas" she told The New Times on Monday. However, she hasted to add that the situation was not threatening like it is in several Southern African countries such as Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. She said that some times, these countries spend three years, without rain.
The minister said that the impact of climate change vary in different countries based on "physical landscape of various regions." "No any country in the world that is free from climatic change. Even the US is faced with that problem, only that the effects differ," she said.
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