Region Seven flood assess

-Phillipai hit by hea

While efforts to determine the extent of recent flooding and its impact on communities in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) are still in progress, the Ministry of the Presidency has said that Phillipai was hit by heavy rain that fell trees, as well as caused landslides.

The ministry, in a press statement issued on Friday evening, said while water has receded from some areas and mostly farmlands are now severely affected, Phillipai is reported to have experienced storms with very high winds during the previous period of heavy rainfall, which resulted in the felling of trees in the area. Additionally, it said the community has suffered several landslides, resulting in several trails through the village, being covered in slush.

Reports received indicate that the airstrip in Paruima has been flooded. Additionally, erosion of the river bank has started to occur.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), however, 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 Multi-Hazard Preparedness and Response Plan, has activated its Disaster Risk Management Committee and has been actively responding to the flooding in the area.

Meanwhile, the ministry said the development of a long-term plan to address the infrastructural damage inflicted on villages in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) affected by recent floods is underway, following the completion of assessments carried out by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Engineer Corps and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

According to the statement, both agencies, which were dispatched to the flood-affected communities in the region have completed their assessments and are preparing their reports for submission to the administration for action.

Two engineers from the GDF as well as technical staff from GWI, it was noted, were deployed by the government to conduct an assessment of the damaged roads and buildings and to facilitate water quality testing and set up purification systems, with a view to determining the long-term response that will be required from the state. Their deployment came shortly after last Sunday’s visit to the villages of Itabac and Kanapang by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, to whom residents directed their concerns as it related to the damage to the road between Kanapang and Itabac.

The road, along with the school building and houses, which were badly damaged, has since been assessed by Captain Daniel Seeram, Officer Commanding 42 Field Engineers Company and Captain Jocelyn McAllister, Engineering Officer.

According to the statement, the initial assessments, Seeram said, were made for general infrastructure in the villages, approaches to the villages, the trails and bridges, along with any damage done to homes and government buildings. “One major concern was the bridge and that is totally displaced and dilapidated. The rise in the