A new project in Rwanda aims to combat the impacts of climate change in disaster-prone areas in the northwest of the country.

The New Times reports on the launch by the government of the 4-year Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change in North Western Rwanda through Community Based Adaptation (RV3CBA) project which will receive around US $10 million funding from the international Adaptation Fund.

Focusing on areas that are prone to flooding during the rainy season, the project will involve planting over 2,000 hectares under agroforestry as well as soil management and erosion control measures.

Local people will receive training and post-harvest handling and storage systems will be improved to avoid post-harvest losses due to flooding. In addition, vulnerable communities living in high risk zones will be relocated to a pilot green village.

It is estimated that at least 112 people died and 3,934 houses were either damaged or demolished in the project area as a result of disasters in the previous year.

Read the full story: Government launches Rwf7bn project to mitigate disasters