World Bank approves US$11M to fight flooding

The World Bank yesterday approved a $2.2 billion (US$11 million) loan for Guyana to improve drainage in areas on the East Demerara and upgrade critical sections of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).

In a statement, the Washington-based organisation said that more than 300,000 people from the flood-prone region of East Demerara will benefit from reduced flooding and climate risks as a result of the US$11 million credit from the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the loan yesterday as well as another US$10 million for education.

The flood project will see the upgrading of critical sections of the EDWC dams and channels, the improvement of drainage capacity in priority areas along the East Demerara and increased flood preparedness by installing instruments to monitor hydro-meteorological data.

The World Bank noted that nearly 90 percent of Guyana’s population lives on the narrow coastal plain, largely below sea