Recovery efforts underway in regions 7, 8 following flood
With the water having receded completely in Potaro-Siparuni (Region 8) and in the residential areas of Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region 7), and with the rivers decreasing in volume, rehabilitation efforts have been initiated by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), which has been supplying residents with tools to start rebuilding.
Deputy DirectorGeneral of the CDC Kester Craig stated last evening that the only water remaining on the lands were on the farms in Region 7, although he could not confirm at the time if this had changed in the hours since his last update.
Craig said that the rivers have lowered, and the CDC has since distributed supplies to all locations to begin the recovery phase, which consists of rehabilitation efforts to offer ease to residents temporarily, until rebuilding can commence.
He related that in communities such as Kaibarupai, in Region 8, they have sent out tarpaulin for use in the building of temporary shelters for those who were displaced in the floods. Residents have also been provided with tools such as chainsaws, forks and shovels that they can use in their rebuilding efforts.
In a press release sent out by the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday, it was stated that while the development of a longterm plan to address the infrastructural damage suffered in Region 8 is underway, the assessment of the impact of the flood on Region 7 is still in progress.
However, the statement noted that during the period of rainfall, Phillipai had experienced storms with very high winds, which resulted in the felling of trees and several landslides, which left a number of trails in the village covered in slush.
The release also stated that the airstrip in Paruima has been flooded according to reports, and erosion of the river bank has started to occur.
Meanwhile, assessments by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) showed that water in the community of Kanapang has been contaminated, with water in the well appearing discoloured, and that the well at Itabac is unserviceable as the solar panel powering it was struck by lightning during a recent thunderstorm.
According to Coordinator for the Hinterland Regions at the Ministry of Public Health, Michael Gouveia, the ministry has been working with the villages to establish care instructions, which can guard against waterborne diseases. He noted that while there is no health crisis at this time in the region, the ministry is ensuring that prevention measures are taken seriously.
The CDC has already deployed 142 relief hampers to its Forward Operations Centre at Kamarang for distribution to the communities even as it is preparing child-specific hampers for distribution to infants and school-aged children in the flooded communities.
The Regional Democratic Council, which worked alongside the CDC earlier this year to complete the Regional MultiHazard Preparedness and Response Plan, has activated its Disaster Risk Management Committee and has been actively responding to the flooding in the area.