Canadians join to help flood-affected Guyanese

International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) has launched a multi-faith fundraising campaign to provide emergency relief in hardest hit regions of Guyana. In a statement on Saturday, the organisation said that people in Guyana whose homes, livelihoods and community infrastructure were destroyed by recent floods are receiving emergency aid through a campaign started by IDRF in partnership with the Central Islamist Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), and supported by a Canadian appeal involving a variety of faith groups and organisations.
Through these combined efforts, IDRF will raise more than $12 million with additional monies expected to come as mosques, Hindu organisations, and businesses continue to raise additional funds.
According to the organisation, while most Muslims give the bulk of their donations as Zakat during Ramadan and that money would have been earmarked for other charitable causes, a number of mosques have pledged to renew their fundraising efforts this summer in support of Guyanese relief.
“We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from Canadians for Guyanese people in critical need because of this terrible flooding,” said IDRF’s Chair of Global Monitoring, Winston Kassim. Kassim, a Canadian of Guyanese heritage, who is a Member of the Order of Canada, added that “it is wonderful to see so many people of diverse backgrounds and faiths come together with a single purpose to help others who are suffering and in great need.”
Kassim and the IDRF team have been in close coordination with the President’s office to ensure its humanitarian relief is meeting the most urgent needs of the affected communities and to sustain that support for an extended period. The team is already providing emergency relief across Guyana including in Barima-Waini, Essequibo islands, Goed Fortuin and Canals Polder, West Bank Demerara; Mahaica Mahaicony Abary, and Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, which are some of the hardest hit regions.
The funds raised are being used to provide humanitarian assistance to victims of the flooding, with an emphasis on food, and the distribution to farmers of livestock such as chickens that will sustain them in the future. Donations to support these efforts can be made on the IDRF website at: https://idrf.ca/project/guyana-flood-relief/. Tax receipts will be issued for donations.
Guyana has been inundated by heavy rains since May, which has caused widespread flooding, leading to submerged roads, buildings and vehicles. Crops and livestock were also adversely affected, creating food shortages and health issues.
“With the rainy season expected to continue through July, it is urgent to respond now while also developing the capacity to mitigate further suffering that additional flooding may cause,” said Director of Education and Dawah for CIOG, Shaykh Moeenul Hack.