Floods receding in Region Eight – gov’t

The government today said that floods were receding six Region Eight villages and that some villages in Region Seven have now been affected.

A statement from the Department of Public Information follows:

The Civil Defence Commission confirmed that the water level in the six villages in Region 8 has been receding steadily. The affected villages are Kaibarupai, Waipa, Chenapau, Sand Hill Settlement, Itabac and Kanapang.

CDC has also received reports from regional authorities that several villages in Region 7 have also suffered flooding but not to the level of severity of the villages in Region 8.

The villages in Region 7 affected are Purima, Kako, Jawalla, Phillipi, Kamarang and Duebamang. The Region 7 Regional Disaster Risk Management Systems (RDRMS) and Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee (RDRMC) have been activated. A team is being deployed to the affected villages to conduct assessments and reconnaissance. Mainly farmlands and some residences have been flooded in the Region 7 villages.

Relief supplies getting to Region Eight today (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

The flooding in both regions is mainly as a result of excessive recent rainfall in the highland regions.

The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Ministry of Public Health today dispatched an additional four planeloads of relief supplies to Chenapau and Orinduik in Region 8. Relief supplies for Waipa, Kaibarupai and other villages are being taken to the villages from the CDC’s Forward Operations Centre at Orinduik. Three flights with relief supplies were dispatched on Friday, May 19th.

Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe is leading a team which is currently en route by boat to Waipa and Kaibarupai. The relief supplies consist mainly of food, medical supplies, clothing and water purification agents.

The CDC thanks the following companies and agencies for generous donations towards the flood relief efforts which have assisted significantly in bolstering the CDC’s and Government of Guyana flood relief stocks:

Banks DIH – Water and biscuits
Nand Persaud and Co – Rice
Ansa McAl – Baby formula, diapers, feminine hygiene products, matches
Food For the Poor – Clothing, footwear, bed linens, cleaning agents and food items
Dunae Trading Company – cleaning agents, hand sanitizer etc

The CDC also especially thanks the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) for coordinating relief supplies of food, clothing and other items.

Members of the public who wish to make donations to the flood relief efforts are asked to do so to the CDC headquarters on Thomas Road. CDC telephone numbers are 226 1114, 226 8815, 226 1027, 225 5847 and email info@cdc.gy and opsandtrg.cdcgy@gmail.com

Following is a list of items which are required:

Water, bleach, biscuits, rice, flour, sugar, salt, powdered milk, cooking oil, margarine, toilet paper, matches, canned foods, potatoes, tea bags, soap, soap powder and clothing.