Guyana - Floods Information Bulletin No. 1

1. The disaster

Severe flooding has been caused to most of the ten provinces of this South-Americancountry by heavy rains falling at a rate 2.5 times above the normal levels of the rainyseason, that normally lasts from May to June and this year has continued over the threefirst weeks of July. The last reports received to date from the Government throughUN-DHA and the Guyana Red Cross through the Federation Delegation to the Caribbeanstate the number of 28,000 to 33,000 people affected (3 to 4% of the total population). Atleast 10,000 people are severely affected. This number can increase once the assessmentbeing carried out by the Government and other agencies, including the Red Cross, iscompleted. No information is available yet about flooded areas in the Southern part of thecountry (this part is about 35% of the 214,970 sq km total surface of the country).

The flooded areas are along the country's major river system. They are: Morawhanna, Upper Pomerron River (Karawab), Mahaica Creek (including St Cuthbert's AmerindianMission), Mahaicony Creek (including St Francis Amerindian Mission), Abary Creek(Black Bush Polder, East Bank, Berbice, Hyberpark, Lillown and Julia's Burg), LowerEssequibo River (Winiperu), Rupununi (Kurupukari), South Pakaraimas (NappiParishanna, Karanambo, Moco-Moco and Ashiwib), Upper Demerara River (Coomacka, Three Friends, Malali, Maritario and Bootabo) and Borbice River (Kwakwani). Estimatesare that 8,255 families are affected in these areas. The 10,000 severely affected persons are in urgent need of food assistance and protectionagainst malaria, diarrhoea disease and typhoid. They will also need rehabilitation supportas soon as the flood waters recede.

2. Action by the Government and other agencies

The Government declared the state of emergency and has held several meetings withnational and international aid agencies, including the local Red Cross and the Federation. Ithas conducted a needs assessment with the co-operation of PAHO, UNDHAC, CDERA, the Guyana Red Cross and the Federation. But due to the difficulties created by the disasteritself and the limitation in transport and communication resources, as well as the dispersallocation of the communities affected, this assessment is not completed yet.