Nickerie

Nickerie, zondag 23 januari 2005

Guyaneze regering roept hulp in voor slachtoffers overstromingen

Bezorgde Surinamers zetten hulpcampagne op

door Erna Aviankoi

GEORGETOWN / PARAMARIBO – De Guyanese regering heeft militaire hulp ingeroepen van de Verenigde Staten van Amerika (US) bij het evacueren van gestrande burgers in verafgelegen dorpen. Zo is gevraagd dat het US Zuidelijke Commando kleine boten inzet voor de reddingsoperatie. De overstromingen in het westerbuurland nemen met de verdrinking van de zesjarige jongen genaamd Andy Roopnarine steeds ergere vormen aan. Het aantal doden is nu op drie. Eerder deze week kreeg Guyana US$ 600.000 van de in Brabados gevestigde Caribbische Ontwikkelingsbank. De donatie is overgemaakt aan de Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency. Ook Brazilie heeft al enige assistentie gegeven. Het and stuurde ongeveer twee dagen geleden zestien tonnen voedsel naar de voormalige Britse kolonie.

De Guyana Chronicle meldde gisteren online dat vanaf 16 december ongeveer een meter regen gevallen. “Normaliter valt in deze periode van het jaar negentig procent minder regen als nu”, schrijft de Associated Press. In verschillende gebieden, vijfenveertig kilometers oost en west van de hoofdstad Georgetwon, hebben de constante regenbuien geleid tot overstromingen van soms meer dan twee meters. In een gisteren uitgegeven persbericht geeft de Guyanese ambassade in Paramaribo aan dat meer dan 400.000 mensen het slachtoffers zijn geworden van deze natuurramp. Ondertussen heeft de Guyanese regering verschillende gebieden, waaronder de hoofdstad uitgeroepen tot rampgebied. Behalve enorme schade aan gebouwen en veestapels begint de gezondheidssituatie ook gevaar te lopen. Duizenden hebben hun toevlucht gezocht in scholen en kerken die reeds overvol beginnen te raken. Gisteravond zijn bezorgde leden van de Surinaamse gemeenschap bijeen gekomen in de Guyanese ambassade om een hulpcampagne op touw te zetten voor slachtoffers. Mensen die geïnteresseerd zijn in het doneren van blikjeswaren, dekens, kleding, schoenen, jerrycans, drinkwater, rubberlaarzen, mantels, flashlights, chloortabletten, sanitaire en medische goederen, kleine rubber of aluminium boten kunnen rechtstreeks contact opnemen met de Guyanese ambassade aan de Henck Arronstraat 82 en dan op de telefoonnummers 477895 / 472509. Functionarissen van de ambassade doen een specifiek beroep op de zakengemeenschap, religieuze en burgerorganisaties om dringende hulpverlening. Volgens een diplomaat die net terug is uit het getroffen gebied en ooggetuige is geweest van deze situatie is dit een mini-tsunami.

Bron:
	,23-01-2005

From Guyana Chronicle: Januari 22, 2005

Guyana seeks flood help from U.S. military
-- relief efforts intensify
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is seeking assistance from the United States Southern Command in Miami for boats to get into areas under flood waters as a massive relocation exercise picks up gear.


GETTING RELIEF: crowds outside the Civil Defence Commission base in Georgetown yesterday.

Officials heading the national disaster response programme last night announced that whole villages may have to be evacuated as flood waters rose in many parts of the East Coast Demerara.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the GDF was yesterday clearing Camp Seweyo on Linden/Soesdyke highway to make it an evacuation centre.
As officials and agencies moved to get food and other supplies and open more shelters for the tens of thousands affected by the floods, the European Union flew in a planeload of relief items.


FLOOD RELIEF: food items being distributed on the East Coast Demerara yesterday.

EU Delegate here, Ambassador Per Eklund, whose residence east of Georgetown has also been flooded, said the 21 tonnes shipment worth US$87,000, was financed by the European Commission.
The emergency assistance consignment includes blankets, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, collapsible jerry cans, plastic sheeting rolls, rehydration sachets and water purification chemicals.
Eklund said ECHO, the humanitarian aid office of the European Commission, is working with the Red Cross which will distribute the relief items to those in need.
An ECHO expert is due here next week to assess the need for further assistance, he said.


SEEKING HELP: flood-affected residents meet President Jagdeo at State House.

Brazil on Thursday night flew in some 16 tonnes of food supplies and President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will be releasing US$500,000 to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CEDERA) to help Guyana in its relief efforts.

The President said CDB President, Dr. Compton Bourne, has advised him that the bank had already released US$100,000 in a grant to CEDERA for relief for Guyana.
The CDB aid would be in addition to the G$200M that Mr. Jagdeo has released to the national flood relief efforts and the many other contributions from the private sector and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).


WATER RELIEF: the Fire Service distributing potable water on the East Coast yesterday.

The President said he also spoke with an official from the World Bank about possible relief for Guyana.
He noted, too, that the Red Cross was working closely with the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), which is coordinating the flood relief efforts and taking supplies into affected communities.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds was yesterday among top government officials spearheading teams distributing food and other supplies to flood-hit communities in Georgetown and on the East Coast Demerara.
Residents continued to turn up at President Jagdeo’s official State House residence urging him to get help to them.


FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Prime Minister Sam Hinds at a food distribution point at the Channel Nine TV studio in Georgetown last night.

Large crowds turned up again yesterday at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) base in Thomas Lands, Georgetown for food boxes and large groups scrambled around vehicles distributing foodstuff in several communities.
The government Tuesday declared the following administrative regions as disaster areas:
1. Region Three – West Demerara/Essequibo Islands
2. Region Four – Demerara/Mahaica
3. Region Five – Mahaica/West Berbice.
GINA said truckloads of food stuff were sent yesterday to communities under water.
These include Bladen Hall/Strathspey, Montrose, Sophia-Pattensen, Albouystown, North East La Penitence, Ruimzeight, Better Hope and Good Hope.
The supplies were bought by the government from shops in Berbice and shipped in 10 trucks to the city, the agency said.

Teams of health care professionals and volunteers have fanned out providing much needed preventative and other services.

Supplies to health centres continue to pour in as the government and private health care agencies intensify their efforts to minimise the spread of diseases, GINA said.

Flood victims tent city for Timehri
- situation 'pretty grim' , JOC head says
by Jasminee Sahoye
TASK force commander of the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), Colonel John Lewis last night announced that the flood situation was grim and said a tent city will be set up at Timehri to accommodate more flood victims.


GRIM SITUATION: JOC head Colonel John Lewis, right, and Senior Superintendent Steve Merai.

He told reporters the situation was getting worse and efforts were being made to build bigger tents.
Twenty-six shelters have been opened and some 15 more are expected to be set up, Lewis said.
At a press conference at the JOC base in police headquarters in Georgetown, he said the tent city will be set up at the Timehri racing circuit.
"Because of the continuing heavy rainfall, we are looking at increasing the sizes of the tent to accommodate some 2,000 persons", he said.

The tents in use can hold only about 100 persons, he explained.
"We have started some planning to erect at the Timehri racing circuit a tent city that will accommodate maybe 20,000 people." The shelters that have been set up so far can accommodate some 4,500 people, Lewis said.
He reported that conditions were so grim in some areas that an entire village may have to be evacuated.


IN LINE: getting food supplies at the CDC base.

"Timehri has been chosen because it is very unlikely to (be flooded) and there is infrastructure there - road, electricity, water…that is our long term plan for shelter."
The JOC head said some 200,000 people are directly affected but noted that this figure can double since there are those who are in some way affected by the severe flood waters.

He said a shelter at Paradise on the East Coast Demerara is accommodating some 250 people and officials were forced to open the Paradise regional office to take in 20 women and 15 children yesterday afternoon.


POLICE keep a close watch at the CDC food distribution base yesterday.

Lewis appealed for more boats to be provided since vehicles cannot be used in some areas and said huge trucks can damage the roadways.
He said the JOC was using 13 boats and it has received three more from the police - two from private individuals and one is at State House.
"The two private boats are already assigned to Bare Root", on the East Coast, he said.
He said two boats have been assigned to Sophia in Georgetown to transport the medical teams as well as food items.
These boats also bring out people from the area.
He told reporters that Sophia was more in need of shelters, adding that "our capacity is 100 (and) we have 400 persons."
He said the Campbellville Secondary School has been identified as another shelter to house the people of Sophia, but noted that the necessary facilities are not in place.
Lewis said people were going there in the night "just to sleep" and leave in the morning.
He appealed for more mattresses and blankets, pointing out that some 7,000 mattresses are needed.


CLEARING a canal at Kaneville, East Bank Demarara.

Some 1,200 meals are provided daily for the people of Sophia, he said, explaining that some people have refused to go to shelters.
He said that information on persons who are staying at the shelters is taken to determine the numbers and locations affected.
House to house visits will be done but that is not possible at this time, he reported.
He, however, said that efforts were being made to gather such information.
He said the expertise of retired Army Chief, Brigadier General Joe Singh is being used for aerial reconnaissance of the flooded parts of the coast.
Lewis said the food items received from the Brazilian government were being sorted for delivery to families today.
He said hampers will be prepared for families of five and supplies will be for one week.
Those rations will be distributed by the Civil Defence Commission where Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford is heading the food distribution team.
Senior Police Superintendent, Steve Merai said there have been no serious reports of crime or criminal activities.
The JOC centre which was established on January 15 is manned around the clock and an army official said the exercise has been codenamed 'Operation Flood Gate.'
Lewis shared the press conference with Merai and Major James

Guyana, januari 21 - 2005
Overseas help to boost flood relief
-- Brazil flies in food consignment

BRAZIL last night flew in some 16 tonnes of food in response to the Guyana Government’s appeal for help as officials moved to shore up emergency relief for thousands of flood victims.
Several Cabinet ministers yesterday led teams that delivered food and other supplies to badly-hit communities after residents turned up at President Bharrat Jagdeo’s official State House residence urging him to get help to them.
Crowds turned up at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) base in Thomas Lands, Georgetown for food boxes and large groups scrambled around vehicles distributing foodstuff in several communities yesterday.
The President last night told reporters the relief efforts had intensified and more supplies were going into flood-hit areas, especially on the East Coast Demerara, West Bank Demerara and the city. He noted that before yesterday, some twenty-five 400-gallon water tanks had been put down at points along the East Coast and by late yesterday 20 more would have been deployed on roads in the area. Tanks were also to be placed at temporary shelters set up along the East Coast.
However, there were surprising and worrying reports that persons were stealing these water tanks, Mr. Jagdeo said.He was peeved and angry that persons were stealing water tanks meant to bring relief to so many people.

"This is a very worrying development; this is really ridiculous. I can't understand that people at this time of need will behave in such a way and steal these tanks which will provide some benefits to people."

CDB RELEASES US$500,000
He announced that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will be releasing US$500,000 to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CEDERA) to help Guyana in its relief efforts.

The President said CDB President, Dr. Compton Bourne, yesterday advised him that the bank had already released US$100,000 in a grant to CEDERA for relief for Guyana.

The CDB aid would be in addition to the G$200M that Mr. Jagdeo has released to the national flood relief efforts and the many other contributions from the private sector and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The President said he also spoke with an official from the World Bank about possible relief for Guyana.

He noted, too, that the Red Cross was working closely with the Joint Operating Committee (JOC), which is coordinating the flood relief efforts and taking supplies into affected communities.

"I want people to understand that within our capabilities we are doing our best to get relief to them as early as possible but we need their support and their help," the President said.

He said he was a bit worried though that some of the local relief supplies will run out but assured that the government was trying to supplement the current stock from other sources.

"I think we still have enough (supplies) across the country but in some locations we have shortages. So far we have supplies to fill another 20 to 30 trucks (today) and then by (tomorrow) some of the others would have already replenished their stocks."

One supplier has assured that he can replenish all his stocks by tomorrow, he said.

The President also told reporters that Mr. Glenn Khan from the Laparkan Group was willing to assist and if necessary, supplies will be flown to Guyana from overseas. Laparkan has an air freighting service.

Mr. Jagdeo thanked Brazil for the food shipment it flew in last night and said he appreciated this effort and assistance from Guyana’s neighbour.

Guyana on Wednesday appealed to the donor community for boats, canned food and inflatable dinghies as the government intensified a relief programme for the thousands hit by floods spawned by the heaviest rains in more than a century.

MORE SHELTERS OPENED
The rains eased yesterday but while several streets in the city were dry, many places in the capital and along the East Coast Demerara and on the West Demerara remained under water, chest-high in many communities.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon and Director General of the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper yesterday continued to meet members of the donor community to discuss possible help.

Other items on the request-list provided to the donor community are generators, outboard engines and drainage and irrigation pumps.

Meanwhile, more than 20 temporary shelters are in operation in Georgetown, West Coast and on the East Coast Demerara.

But President Jagdeo admitted that "there are still minor problems associated with these shelters", including the procurement of blankets and mattresses.

He, however, said these problems were being sorted out.

He said the CDC was continuing to deliver hot meals to people stranded in flood-hit areas.

"They are delivering several thousands of these meals but their capacity is overwhelmed," the President reported.

He said dry rations were being sent to many centres where officials are cooking and feeding people and trucks yesterday delivered supplies to several locations, including South Ruimveldt and Plaisance.

He said officials will assess the situation in areas beyond Enmore on the East Coast to see if relief efforts should extend to Golden Grove, Victoria and other villages.

"If we find that the flooding is also intense in those areas beyond Enmore, such as Golden Grove, then we will expand the distribution of dry rations to those areas starting from (today)."

He noted that supplies had to be sent into parts of the East Bank Demerara yesterday, including Herstelling.

RELIEF EFFORTS EXPAND
Relief efforts were under way on the West Bank including Canal Numbers One and Two and the West Coast. Mr. Jagdeo said the army will be going into the badly-hit Sophia area today to open an additional centre.
JOC Head Col. John Lewis yesterday assured that the committee was doing everything within its limited capability and available resources and working round-the-clock to ensure that food, shelter and other assistance are given to affected persons.
Private sector official, Mr. Kit Nascimento said the sector has made significant contributions to the national relief effort in terms of the most needed requirements such as food supplies. He said "a great deal" of the prepared food being distributed to persons in affected communities is from the private sector.
The private sector has also provided several water pumps to help drain off flood waters, he said. The government Tuesday declared the following administrative regions as disaster areas:
1. Region Three – West Demerara/Essequibo Islands

2. Region Four – Demerara/Mahaica

3. Region Five – Mahaica/West Berbice.
(MARK RAMOTAR)

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