Volcanoes in Rwanda

 Volcanoes National Park - Rwanda national park, gorila trekking

This week we are going to be talking about Rwanda’s volcanoes and how the country minimizes their dangers.

Rwanda is home to 5 volcanoes: Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke and Mount Gahinga. All of these volcanoes are located inside of the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Founded in 1925, it is the oldest national park in Africa where many tourists enjoy hiking and visiting these volcanoes. 


In Rwanda, MINEMA ( Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management) has set protocols in place to help minimize risks for natural disasters throughout the country. This management agency has a published protocol that describes what to do incase of any national emergency: how to prepare for hazards, what to do in an emergency, and where to do/what to do after the fact. 


Rwanda has not faced much volcanic activity of its own, but is still affected by the aftermath of volcanic activity in neighboring countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there was a volcanic eruption that displaced more than 100,000 people and resulted in many of them seeking refuge from the natural disaster in Rwanda. The eruption in the DRC was from the Nyiragongo Volcano in 2002. This event was so catastrophic to DRC, and subsequently Rwanda, that the Rwanda Red Cross revamped their disaster preparedness protocols. This in turn enabled them to develop a 12 month disaster plan that has the capacity to aid 50,000 to 500,000 refugees. 


https://www.kabiraugandasafaris.com/volcanoes-in-rwanda.html#:~:text=The%20Five%20Volcanoes%20of%20Rwanda,the%20critically%20endangered%20mountain%20gorilla.

https://www.akageranationalparkrwanda.org/history-of-the-volcanoes-national-park/#:~:text=Mount%20Bisoke%2C%20Mount%20Karisimbi%2C%20Mount,park%20on%20the%20whole%20continent.

https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/dr-congo-and-rwanda-volcanic-eruption-goma-appeal-no-0202-revised

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