The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Friday last delivered a quantity of additional food hampers, hygiene kits and water purification tablets to the community of Eteringbang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Persons residing on the waterfront are significantly impacted, and as such, were in need of supplemental relief aid.
The hampers were distributed by regional representatives, along with CDC personnel. The Commission maintains partnerships with all national and regional bodies to receive regular updates on the flood situation across Guyana.
Last week, the CDC reported that dozens of households, commercial entities and farmlands were inundated in the mining community.
Relief supplies were then dispatched to Eteringbang after a flood assessment conducted by the CDC at in the community, and nearby locations, showed the waters had risen some 10 feet.
Other areas in Region Seven were also affected by the floods caused by torrential rainfall over the past few weeks.
The National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) received reports that an average of 80 households, commercial entities and farmlands were inundated at Eteringbang and as such, dispatched a small assessment team along with 80 food hampers, 200 cleaning hampers, and 10,000 water purification tablets.
The team travelled by boat from the town of Bartica, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, where they noticed many landings and villages impacted by the rising waters of the Cuyuni River due to torrential rainfall. The Wyamo Landing, Two Point Mining Camp, Devil’s Hole Island and Kurushie Landing all had seen water levels rise by at least three feet over one week. Cumang Landing and Makapa saw flood waters increase by at least four feet in less than one week.
All the settlements and dwellings observed along the Cuyuni River were affected by the current floods, the CDC said last week.
After careful observation and interaction, it was surmised that at least two dozen business establishments and over 170 households were affected by the floods. The health centre and primary school at Eteringbang were impacted as well.
Many persons were forced to seek higher ground as the waters rose, which also meant limited access to healthcare and essential supplies. The regional representatives distributed the hampers and long boots to affected residents by way of a list they compiled while going door-to-door along the riverbank. The assessment also revealed that more food and cleaning hampers are needed, along with mosquito nets; more long boots and medical supplies.
Residents and visitors in the area confirmed that while the water levels have fluctuated over the past three months, this is the highest it has been in a long time. Eteringbang is located on the Guyana-Venezuela border.
It has been noted that the rainfall experienced in May alone was recorded as the second highest level of rainfall across the country in the last 40 years. All 10 administrative regions in Guyana experienced varied levels of flooding, prompting Government to roll out immediate responses such as evacuation of those most at risk and flood assistance.
