CDC to send 1,000 flood-relief hampers to Region Nine

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has prepared over 1,000 hampers for flood affected residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

CDC’s Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig will lead a technical team to the Region on Wednesday, to hand over the emergency supplies and assess the effects of the flood.   

The Director General was on site today at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, where the hampers were being prepared.

He said communities in North and Central Rupununi, as well as the Deep South, are prone to seasonal heavy rainfall. Those communities are oftentimes affected by flooding of roads and bridges, culverts, homes, and farm lands.

“Firstly, we have people pre-positioning supplies, in Region Nine to support those communities that are directly affected. We’re pre-positioning both food supplies sanitation and cleaning items,” the DG said.

Lt. Col. Craig said persons will need all the help they can get, as some may be displaced for a few hours or days before the water recedes. Others may have to move into shelters or with relatives.

He explained that supplies will be distributed accordingly; food supplies for those affected for a few hours or days and cleaning and sanitation supplies for households that are displaced.  

“For those displaced for a couple of hours or a few days, we’ll provide them with food supplies. If they are being housed at the shelter, we’d have to make provision for sleeping arrangements and cleaning arrangements for those persons in shelters.”

The Director General said the CDC is working closely with the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine in this endeavour.

Additionally, the Regional Disaster Management Committee has been activated as part of the Regional Response Mechanism. The Committee has been conducting assessments across the Region, focusing on households most impacted.

The assessment includes the identification of shelters and putting all the logistical arrangements in place to evacuate and house persons. The committee is also working along with programme heads in Agriculture, Health, and Public Works to ensure all other systems are in place.

“There is also likely to be an increase in water-borne diseases and measures are being put in place, in terms of having Ministry of Health crises or medical outreach personnel are all taken into consideration at the committee level.

You have Lethem and several communities that are part of Lethem, and so, we are working with the Town Council similarly to identify their priority needs. We’re in discussion with the Town Clerks and the Mayors. Likewise for Region Nine, we’re in discussion with the REO, and also the Regional Chairman,” Lt. Col. Craig said.

The CDC is also continuing to monitor the Region closely for seasonal flooding as the rains continue.