Guyana approves $15M aid for Venezuela flood victims
THE Guyana Government has approved an initial $15M in humanitarian assistance for Venezuelan flood victims and President Bharrat Jagdeo has already communicated this in a letter to President Hugo Chavez. The money was approved after consultations with the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana to determine what form of relief Guyana can provide to people affected. A message of sympathy to the Government and people of Venezuela from President Jagdeo and the people of Guyana was read in the National Assembly yesterday by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Reepu Daman Persaud. "It is with deep sympathy that we have learnt of the tragedy that swept several areas of Venezuela which has resulted in the tragic loss of many lives and severe damage to property and infrastructure," he said. The President observed that the daily reports emanating from the capital, Caracas, reveal the sad plight of thousands of people caused by this natural disaster. He noted that he has already dispatched a cable of sympathy to Venezuelan President Chavez in which he communicated the country's commitment to help to ease the suffering from the flood. "We will also take necessary measures to reach out in solidarity with our neighbour as they cope with this natural disaster...I am sure that all the people of Guyana share the sense of loss in our sister republic," he added. The President emphasised that Guyana will continue to monitor the situation and extend assistance on behalf of the Guyanese people as far as possible. The Reuters news agency reported that thousands of people were killed by flash floods and mudslides that swamped Venezuela's Caribbean coast last week, burying towns under tons of mud and boulders. Meanwhile, local rice conglomerate, Kayman Sankar and Company Limited, yesterday became the first to respond to an appeal in aid of the mounting crisis in flood-hit Venezuela with a donation of nine bags of rice. The Ministry of Health had also promised to contribute 500 mosquito nets before the end of the day, an official at the Venezuelan Embassy here confirmed yesterday. The two pledges follow a relief drive launched Friday by the fledgling local civic group, `Guyana is First' in collaboration with the Venezuelan Embassy, following the declaration of a state of emergency in parts of the country. Among items said to be most needed in the cause are non-perishable foods (sugar, rice, flour, salted fish), blankets, long boots, children's diapers, sleeping bags, industrial and portable camping stoves, portable ice boxes, mosquito nets and camping lamps. There is also dire need for such medical supplies as surgical equipment and oral rehydration fluids. More pledges are expected following a meeting yesterday morning of the diplomatic community called by Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Cuban Ambassador Mr Ricardo Garcia Diaz. The meeting was held at the Cuban Embassy in Georgetown. Pledges at the public level are being accepted at the Venezuelan Institute for Culture and Cooperation, 220 Camp Street, two doors from the Lee's Funeral Home between 09:00hrs - 16:00hrs.
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