Representatives of the United Nations (UN) offices in Guyana on Friday engaged a technical team from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to better understand the flood situation and explore possible areas of cooperation.
CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig
The virtual meeting chaired by UN Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka, was attended by representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the International Office for Migration (IOM).
CDC’s Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig said the team discussed how the UN can offer support in data management and technology through the use of satellite images to better understand the geographical impact of water levels.
UN Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka
CDC’s Senior Preparedness Officer, Captain Lakshman Persaud said the intention is to use Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping with satellite imagery to provide real-time information on the impact of the flood in affected communities since this will assist in accessing remote communities in Regions 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
The Director General also explored the possibility of the UN supporting the conduct of a socio-economic impact assessment of the flood in the recovery stage. Meanwhile, IOM has offered its commitment to provide support as it relates to the tracking and monitoring of displaced persons in severely affected communities.
Over the past week, the CDC has distributed over 2000 hampers to residents affected by the flooding across Guyana. Only last week, the body revealed that while several regions across the country experienced severe flooding as a result of the intense downpours, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were the hardest hit.
In Kwakwani, Region 10, houses were completely submerged by the floodwaters thus forcing residents to evacuate. In Black Bush Polder, Region Six, livestock have died and farms are inundated. To date, the CDC is making every effort to reach out to those who are affected.
