Food For The Poor (Guyana) says it has donated in excess of $28M worth of food items, water and educational materials to residents in the flood-affected Upper Demerara communities. According to a release yesterday from the organisation, residents of Coomaka, Three Friends and neighbouring communities received items that included beef and chicken broth, chick peas, canned food, assorted crackers, protein meals, coffee and books.

The release quoted FFP Executive Director Leon Davis as saying “we will be of further assistance as the situation demands.” The organisation said the donations followed discussions Davis had with residents in the affected communities on July 13. It noted that rendering aid to those in need was hindered “by impassable roadways or trails and to a lesser extent, transportation incapability” but expressed gratitude to Public Works Minister Robeson Benn for making his ministry’s staff and lorries available to assist the efforts.

The organisation said it was also grateful to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and other partners who responded affirmatively in this time of need.

Heavy rain has flooded large swathes of inland areas, cutting off some communities and at least 200 families in villages along the upper Demerara River have been flooded out, government officials said last week.

The CDC has been mobilised along with the Ministries of Agriculture, Amerindian Affairs and Health and the Region 10 Administration. Benn and Minister of Local Govern-ment and Regional Develop-ment, Kellawan Lall have visited the area to assess the extent and impact of the flooding in the riverain areas including the mines area communities in Linden, Great Falls, Malali and Muritaro.

CDC Director General Colonel (retd.) Chabilall Ramsarup told this newspaper at the weekend that there was no need to evacuate the residents since most of the houses in the affected areas were built on stilts or affected persons had opted to stay with relatives.