Like many places in Africa, Rwanda suffers from severe weather and natural disasters. Last year alone 3000 homes were destroyed, the worst severe weather storm killed at least 72 people and injured many others. Though this is due mainly to the bad weather, overpopulation, the way land is used, and modern construction methods make the damage much worse than it could be. However, many people will not leave their land, the land that their ancestors used for generations, because they feel a connection to it. Even people who experience annual flood damage from living near rivers will not move to safer ground because that is their ancestral land. The Rwandan government however is trying to reduce the impact by relocating many people hurt by these natural phenomenon to safer areas. It is an ongoing project, but the Rwandans are determined to keep their people safe.
This article is important because it shows how geography can affect push and pull factors for people. It also shows how people's cultural ties can keep them from moving, as well as how their building and population management structures can affect the everyday lives of the people living in an area.
Source: http://worldcrunch.com/culture-society/rwandans-risk-it-all-for-their-ancestral-lands/rwanda-climate-change-africa-floods/c3s10957/#.USv5sqWG3zs
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