A large number of Amerindians suspected to be migrants including children were found at Anabisi, Port Kaituma, Region One, North West District (NWD), and appeared to be malnourished and in poor health.
The group is said to be Venezuelans who migrated from that country for betterment in Guyana.
Following reports of the discovery in sections of the media, the Office of the Prime Minister stated that several Government agencies had immediately responded and will provide the necessary emergency interventions.
These agencies would have provided immediate medical and food relief to the migrants.
“As an additional measure, a ministerial team of central responders departed the city today for Port Kaituma with additional supplies. The team will coordinate with other stakeholders that have been involved in collaborative work to ensure a holistic intervention,” the release stated.
The release also stated that an aircraft will remain in the area to assist with medical evacuations which may become necessary.
It was reported in an online media outlet, Demerara Waves, that the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Blossom Inc had discovered the migrants and raised an alarm to the necessary Government officials to further intervene.
The group, suspected to be Warraus, was suspected to be living on the bank of a river.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips
“The Government of Guyana remains mindful of its humanitarian obligations to migrants and has been actively engaged in sustained efforts to deliver food and medical relief across the regions where migration into Guyana is taking place,” the release further indicated.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips in an invited comment stated, “As I speak with you now, we have [re]supplies that were delivered to them [this morning] yesterday – food supplies, we have a medical team that went in there since yesterday and [will] remain on the ground.
We have additional supply that is now at Port Kaituma that is being ferried to Anabisi area and we also have an aircraft that departed shortly with more supplies. Because we cannot take supplies for the refugees alone. We’re also taking to the people who live in that area.
And if there is any need for medical evacuation – two aircraft will be on the ground. The doctor will make the determination and we will bring out the people for further treatment.”
He indicated that the Government would have dispatched supplies into that area to immediately be distributed to the affected families.
He noted that the Government of Guyana is committed to assisting the refugees throughout Guyana.
“It’s a humanitarian issue and we have a humanitarian obligation to help refugees throughout Guyana,” he noted.
When questioned about why the refugees are in their current deplorable state if they were receiving relief from the inception, the Prime Minister stated, “We don’t know that. Let the medical people determine that.”
“The doctors on the ground will examine the children, they will determine who will be hospitalised and whatever further medical intervention is needed,” Phillips reiterated.
