News
12/05/2020
Covid-19: Current Situation in Rwanda – As of May 4, 2020
Dear Rwanda activists,
enclosed are further information about Rwanda in Corona times.
* The numbers of infected are rising – but they are rising very slowly and at the beginning of May (03.05.2020) stand at 260. Apparently there is no infection in the country but through the long-distance drivers coming from Tanzania. The course of the disease has so far not been serious and there are no deaths to lament.
* The curfew has been lifted in its strict form. The movement of people is only prohibited from 8 PM to 5 AM. Travel has been expanded to the provincial level. This also applies to the area of the capital Kigali, which is considered a province.
* Public transport is still very restricted, motorcycle taxis are banned for passenger transport.
* The second school semester is cancelled – schools and universities as well as vocational training should only reopen at the beginning of September.
* Hotels and restaurants may be open until 7 PM and individual sporting activities outdoors are now also allowed. Should there be hotel guests, they cannot be served from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM. As in public, mask wearing is mandatory.
* Agriculture is expressly permitted
* The borders and airport remain closed to travelers, but goods and long-distance transport by truck and cargo flights are allowed. RwandaAir has established one flight per week Kigali – Brussels – Kigali, which is intended for Rwandans living abroad or for persons who have a residence in Rwanda. Nevertheless, the 14-day quarantine regulation applies upon arrival.
* Tourism is de facto at a standstill – hotels are closed (often due to lack of guests) – the Virunga National Park is closed as a precaution. The economic consequences will be very painful. It is also not yet foreseeable when a certain normality will return in this area. It is also very difficult to assess when group trips to Rwanda will be possible again.
* The country is generally calm, although many people are gradually running out of cash, this leads to discontent about the curfews and to a shortage of food. Unfortunately, prices are also rising in various areas – however, the state is taking action against excessive prices and deliberate shortages.
* The Rwandan government has begun distributing food to the poorest population groups nationwide. This is organized through the districts, sectors and cells.
* Our office in Kigali is staffed twice a week, this is possible due to a special permit to make necessary financial transfers and process inquiries from Rwanda. We are in contact with many Rwandan partners via WhatsApp to learn about the situation on the ground. Field trips and project visits are currently still not possible.
* The Rwandan government has now decreed in a new ordinance that important construction projects that have already been started and are also part of the Imihogos can be resumed. The districts have been asked to report these construction projects in the socially important areas such as education and health to MINALOC. We are now trying to contact the districts and include the projects approved by us in these areas in their list.
* Corona donation appeal for Rwanda:
To address the current difficult supply situation – but also to be able to meet possible existential consequences of the pandemic for people on the hills, we have called for a donation campaign. For this purpose, a joint declaration was drafted by Interior Minister Roger Lewentz and Dr. Richard Auernheimer. The donations are coordinated through our office in Kigali.
We continue to hope that from mid/end of June it will again be possible to make overland trips and we can then resume our project work.
For further questions about Rwanda, you can contact the office or the Rwanda department.
Rwanda Team – Mainz
enclosed are further information about Rwanda in Corona times.
* The numbers of infected are rising – but they are rising very slowly and at the beginning of May (03.05.2020) stand at 260. Apparently there is no infection in the country but through the long-distance drivers coming from Tanzania. The course of the disease has so far not been serious and there are no deaths to lament.
* The curfew has been lifted in its strict form. The movement of people is only prohibited from 8 PM to 5 AM. Travel has been expanded to the provincial level. This also applies to the area of the capital Kigali, which is considered a province.
* Public transport is still very restricted, motorcycle taxis are banned for passenger transport.
* The second school semester is cancelled – schools and universities as well as vocational training should only reopen at the beginning of September.
* Hotels and restaurants may be open until 7 PM and individual sporting activities outdoors are now also allowed. Should there be hotel guests, they cannot be served from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM. As in public, mask wearing is mandatory.
* Agriculture is expressly permitted
* The borders and airport remain closed to travelers, but goods and long-distance transport by truck and cargo flights are allowed. RwandaAir has established one flight per week Kigali – Brussels – Kigali, which is intended for Rwandans living abroad or for persons who have a residence in Rwanda. Nevertheless, the 14-day quarantine regulation applies upon arrival.
* Tourism is de facto at a standstill – hotels are closed (often due to lack of guests) – the Virunga National Park is closed as a precaution. The economic consequences will be very painful. It is also not yet foreseeable when a certain normality will return in this area. It is also very difficult to assess when group trips to Rwanda will be possible again.
* The country is generally calm, although many people are gradually running out of cash, this leads to discontent about the curfews and to a shortage of food. Unfortunately, prices are also rising in various areas – however, the state is taking action against excessive prices and deliberate shortages.
* The Rwandan government has begun distributing food to the poorest population groups nationwide. This is organized through the districts, sectors and cells.
* Our office in Kigali is staffed twice a week, this is possible due to a special permit to make necessary financial transfers and process inquiries from Rwanda. We are in contact with many Rwandan partners via WhatsApp to learn about the situation on the ground. Field trips and project visits are currently still not possible.
* The Rwandan government has now decreed in a new ordinance that important construction projects that have already been started and are also part of the Imihogos can be resumed. The districts have been asked to report these construction projects in the socially important areas such as education and health to MINALOC. We are now trying to contact the districts and include the projects approved by us in these areas in their list.
* Corona donation appeal for Rwanda:
To address the current difficult supply situation – but also to be able to meet possible existential consequences of the pandemic for people on the hills, we have called for a donation campaign. For this purpose, a joint declaration was drafted by Interior Minister Roger Lewentz and Dr. Richard Auernheimer. The donations are coordinated through our office in Kigali.
We continue to hope that from mid/end of June it will again be possible to make overland trips and we can then resume our project work.
For further questions about Rwanda, you can contact the office or the Rwanda department.
Rwanda Team – Mainz
