As the floodwaters in Kwakwani (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) continue to slowly recede, Region 10 Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, a resident of the area, received for the community food hampers from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Wednesday, for the first time since the severe flood struck the community.
Acting CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, handed over the hampers to Adolph for distribution to the residents.
In some areas, the floodwaters — which had reached heights of approximately nine feet — have now begun to recede slowly. Over 300 households remain affected by the disastrous situation, and although the residents have adopted adaptive measures, most homes are completely flooded, resulting in occupants being
A representative from the CDC sending off the hampers to the Kwakwani residents
forced to move to higher ground.
On Sunday morning, some of the residents also received supplies of cleaning agents, utensils, and medical supplies from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The cleaning agents included soap powder, bleach, bar soap, long boots and other cleaning agents. The Opposition Peoples Progressive Party also went into the area on Sunday and distributed cleaning agents.
Region 10 Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph has said residents would like to place on record their appreciation to all donors for the efforts expended in promptly responding to their calls for help.
Adolph highlighted that one of the challenges facing the residents in the present situation is transportation. He said high fees are being charged, especially by canoe operators plying the flooded routes, to transport residents living on the outskirts of Kwakwani to the central location for shopping and other business-related purposes.
Adolph is calling on the relevant officials to consider raising the level of the main access road, so that in the future, when flooding occurs, transportation would not be affected.
Residents have even called for Government to consider commencing irrigation works in the area as soon as the water recedes, so as to prevent the situation from recurring.
The flooding in Kwakwani started in April, and intensified over the months owing to the heavy rainfall coupled with the overtopping of the Berbice River. Persons living on Lamp Island and the Waterfront are the most severely affected.
The water had risen to as high as eight feet in some areas, but is currently receding slowly. Residents are currently forced to utilise boats as the main mode of transportation, since the roads are inundated.
