The Guyana Relief Council (GRC) is asking the public to continue to support its efforts to assist persons who suffer disaster and for the year it has already helped 19 fire-hit families.

In a press release, the GRC said it provided assistance to Loretta Dowridge, from a family of six of 98 Barnwell Street, Buxton; Caeron Duke, from a family of two of ‘F’ – C Field, Sophia; Wendy Williams, from a family of four of 3rd Avenue, Bartica and Keiron Munroe, from a family of two of ‘Q’, Hadfield Street, Wortmanville. Also Gangapersaud Bachan, from a family of six of 5 First Street, Industry Housing Scheme; Zaheir Naikan, from a family of four of Bath settlement, West Coast Berbice; Bernadette Jackson of South Sophia and Indrawattie Mohabir, from a family of three of 13 Annandale, East Coast Demerara were given assistance after their homes were destroyed by fire.

Munroe was also given monetary assistance to defray funeral costs for his sons, three-year old Evan Anthony and one-year-old Isaiah, who perished in the fire.

Meanwhile, the GRC said it recently provided welfare assistance to Parbattie Rampersaud and a family of five of Sheet Anchor, Canje; Roy Rudder of Sophia and Clarice van Long of Rupertee Village, Annai. Representatives paid a private visit to Van Long and her eleven-year-old triplet daughters to hand over the quarterly hamper of clothing and food stuff.

GRC executive members also travelled to regions eight and nine to distribute school books and clothing to residents of Bamboo Creek, Lethem, Karasabai and Monkey Mountain. Impregnated mosquito nets were also distributed at Bamboo Creek. Each household received two nets.
The GRC said too for the year it has provided assistance to 19 families comprising 82 persons who suffered losses due to fire; 12 welfare cases, four hinterland welfare cases and two families comprising five persons who suffered other disaster.

It said it is profoundly grateful to its friends and supporters whose generosity helped it to respond to the needs of persons whose lives have been affected by disaster.