1. THE WEATHER IS FINALLY IMPROVING IN GUYANA ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION REMAINS UNPREDICTABLE AND MORE RAIN IS FORECAST UP TO THE END OF AUGUST. FLOOD WATERS ARE RECEDING, HOWEVER HIGH WATER LEVELS ARE STILL REPORTED IN FOUR REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
2. NATIONAL DESASTER RELIEF UNIT (NDRU) CONTINUES TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR AN ESTIMATED 2,500 FAMILIES (APPROXIMATELY 12,000 PEOPLE). RELIEF EFFORTS ARE NOW BEING CONCENTRATED ON LESS ACCESSIBLE AREAS WITH THE USE OF HELICOPTERS. BETWEEN 10-15 ADDITIONAL COMMUNITIES HAVE ALERTED NDRU TO THEIR EMERGENCY SITUATION WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, AND HAVE HAD PROMPT ASSISTANCE.
3. THE GOVERNMENT ANTICIPATES THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL BE NEEDED TO SUSTAIN EMERGENCY RELIEF ACTIVITIES TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES SUFFERED BY THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, THAT WILL CAUSE FOOD SHORTAGES IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES.
4. RELIEF TO PERSONS IN AFFECTED AREAS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
5. A NEW INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE, ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS REVITALIZATION/REHABILITATION OF FLOODED AREAS, WILL CARRY OUT EXTENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. NDRU HAS ALREADY PUT INTO USE CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCY'S (CDERA) COMPUTERIZED TRACKING SYSTEM. A ZONING SYSTEM IS BEING ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT ALL AREAS AFFECTED BY FLOODS ARE ATTENDED TO.
6. MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE CONTINUES IN ANTICIPATION OF POST-FLOOD MEDICAL PROBLEMS. PAHO/WHO IS JOINING THE MINISTRY IN THE RELIEF EFFORTS.
7. NATIONAL NGOS HAVE BEEN ASSISTING IN THE MEDICAL AREA IN SOME REGIONS, WHILE OTHERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ACTIVE IN FOOD DISTRIBUTION. RELAUNCHING ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 2-3 MONTHS.
8. CONTRIBUTIONS REPORTED TO DHA (SINCE DHA SITUATION REPORT NO. 6 OF 6 AUGUST 1996)
| GOVERNMENTS | USD | |
| CHINA | MIXED ITEMS (MILK, CANNED FOOD AND BLANKETS | 100,000 |
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | SEVEN (7) CONTAINERS OF READY-TO-EAT MEALS | 230,000 |
| ITALY | OVER-ALL RELIEF OPERATIONS (through DHA) | 80,000 |
| CANADA | MEDICAL SUPPLIES | 40,000 |
| INDIA | MEDICINES | 29,000 |
| DENMARK | OVER-ALL RELIEF OPERATIONS | 15,000 |
| JAPAN (JICA - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY) | MEDICATION AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT | 100,000 |
9. IN COORDINATION WITH THE GUYANESE AUTHORITIES IN CHARGE OF THE FLOOD EMERGENCY, THE UNDP OFFICE IN GUYANA WILL HOST THE NEXT DONORS COORDINATION MEETING ON 6 SEPTEMBER 1996.
10. DHA IS READY TO SERVE AS CHANNEL FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS OF DONORS INTERESTED TO SUPPORT RELIEF ACTIVITIES FOR THE FLOOD-AFFECTED POPULATION. FUNDS ARE SPENT IN COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UN SYSTEM, AND DHA PROVIDES DONOR GOVERNMENTS WITH WRITTEN CONFIRMATION ON THE UTILIZATION OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED.
11. FUNDS SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO DHA ACCOUNT NO. CO.590.160.1 AT SWISS BANK CORPORATION. CASE POSTAL 2770, CH-1211 GENEVA 2, WITH MENTION: GUYANA - FLOODS.
12. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA GENEVA AS INDICATED BELOW OF BILATERAL RELIEF MISSIONS/PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.
TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-12-34
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: +41-22-917-20-10
DESK OFFICER: MR. E. HAEGGLUND TEL. +41-22-917-32-99/MR. C.
PEREIRA,
TEL. +41-22-917-13-38
PRESS TO CONTACT: MS. M. MOULIN-ACEVEDO,
DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-28-56
TELEX: 414242 dha ch
FAX: +41-22-917-00-23
E-MAIL: dhagva at dha.unicc.org