The Rwandan weatherman has warned that heavy rainfalls are expected to continue especially in the southern, northern and western regions of the country.

Already some residents in disaster-prone areas are paying the price of the heavy rains that have intensified this month causing deaths and damage of property.

“A strong El Niño is present now and is weakening to neutral condition,” Rwanda’s Meteorology Agency said in its forecast adding that the months of May to July may experience decreased rainfall.

“The chance of La Niña increases to 50 per cent in August-September-October 2016.” La Niña is associated with a prolonged dry spell that usually follows the El Niño.

Enhanced rainfall has already claimed lives of 12 people, while 19 others were injured in the last three days, in addition to huge damages.

According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees Affairs (Midmar), 26 people have died since last August, with 37 others injured and crop and livestock destroyed as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.

There are fears that thousands Rwandans still living in areas demarcated as high-risk face disaster threats, widening the humanitarian burden for government.

It is estimated that as many as 6,000 Rwandans still live in disaster-prone areas, even after government pledged urgent action to have them relocated.

READ: Victims of heavy rainfall in Gasabo district decry neglect

However, Midmar cites budget constraints as having hindered the relocation process. 

The ministry also blames families that have been reluctant to move from these areas even after sensitisation.

“The resources needed to relocate the residents were not readily available, so it has taken as a long process as we had to carry out awareness,” Philippe Habinshuti, Midmar’s director of response and recovery told Rwanda Today.

The country is prone to weather disasters including floods, earthquakes, landslides, windstorms and droughts.