1. ON 12 JULY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF GUYANA CONVENED A MEETING OF THE HEADS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN GEORGETOWN IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE THAT THE HEAD OF STATE OF THE COUNTRY, H.E. CHEDDI JAGAN, HAD DECLARED A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY DUE TO GRAVE FLOODING AFFECTING SEVERAL REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. AN INTERNATIONAL APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE WAS REITERATED BY THE MINISTER FOLLOWING AN ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
2. THE FLOODING HAS BEEN CAUSED BY HEAVY RAINS FALLING DURING THE RAINY SEASON, NORMALLY FROM MAY TO JUNE, AT A RATE 2,5 TIMES ABOVE THE NORMAL LEVELS REGISTERED IN SIMILAR PERIODS. THE RAINS WERE PARTICULARLY INSISTENT DURING THE END OF JUNE AND ARE STILL PERSISTENT AT PRESENT. THE SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO WORSEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE DUE TO UNFAVORABLE WEATHER FORECASTS.
3. SEVEN OF THE COUNTRY'S TEN REGIONS ARE REPORTED AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS BOTH ON THE COASTAL AREA AND IN THE INTERIOR. THE MOST AFFECTED AREAS ARE:
4. THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES THAT IN THE AREAS OF MAHAICA, MAHAICONY AND ABARY 9,500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS AND ARE IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE. THEY ARE THREATENED BY DIARRHOEAL DISEASES, RESPIRATORY, EYE AND SKIN INFECTIONS. DEAD CARCASSES OF ANIMALS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE AFFECTED AREAS. DANGER OF SNAKE BITES IS OF CONCERN.
5. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO REPORTED THAT IN THE SAME AREAS 20,000 ACRES OF RICE CULTIVATION HAVE BEEN LOST. 20,000 HEADS OF CATTLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TRAPPED IN LOW LYING AREAS. THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE REGIONS HAVE BEEN EITHER DISRUPTED OR SERIOUSLY AFFECTED.
6. THE NATIONAL DISASTER COMMITTEE IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT IS COORDINATING THE RESPONSE TO THE FLOODS AND A DISASTER MANAGEMENT GROUP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IS SENDING SEVERAL HEALTH TEAMS TO THE AFFECTED AREAS. THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IS OVERLOOKING THE SITUATION OF THE FLOODED AREAS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. THE ARMY, THE POLICE AND THE NATIONAL RELIEF COMMITTEE ARE INVOLVED IN THE RELIEF EFFORT. THIS ACTIVITY WILL EXPAND TO INVOLVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS IN GUYANA. THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC HAS INSTRUCTED THAT THE INITIAL AMOUNT OF G DLRS 50 MILLION (US DLRS 360,000) BE MADE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY TO ASSIST IN THE RELIEF EFFORT, ESPECIALLY IN PROVIDING FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPORT. PLANS ARE AFOOT TO SECURE THE NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION TO REACH THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES. PLANS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO MOVE ANIMALS TO DRY AREAS.
7. THE FOLLOWING INITIAL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT:
8. IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN GUYANA IS ORGANIZING A DONOR COORDINATION MEETING ON MONDAY 15 JULY 1996 AT 12 NOON. THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL DISASTER COMMITTEE IS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION. A NEW SITREP WILL BE PREPARED AFTER THIS MEETING.
9. DHA IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS A CHANNEL FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED DURING THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF PHASE. FUNDS ARE SPENT IN COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UN SYSTEM, AND DHA PROVIDES DONOR GOVERNMENTS WITH WRITTEN CONFIRMATION ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED.
10. FUNDS SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO DHA ACCOUNT NO. CO.590.160.1 AT SWISS BANK CORPORATION, CASE POSTALE 2770, CH-1211 GENEVA 2, WITH REFERENCE: CHINA - FLOODS, DHA GENEVA.
11. 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, DIRECT
TEL. +41-22-917.13.83
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TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
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EMAIL: DHAGVA @ DHA.UNICC.ORG