Ref: OCHA/GVA – 2005/17
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Guyana - Floods
Situation
1. The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team informs that it has been raining again over Georgetown since 24 January and once receded floodwaters could rise again. The overflowing water on the East and West Demerara conservancy dams still poses danger of further flooding, particularly in greater Georgetown. The water level is reportedly as high as 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) in most villages, especially areas bordering the conservancy/dam structure.
National Response
2. The Joint Operations Centre (JOC) informed that 43 temporary shelters were currently meeting the needs of 3,772 persons. Five boats are in operation between Sophia and Paradise, for evacuation and supply of food and drinking water to those stranded by floodwaters.
3. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has been identified as the lead agency responsible for the reception, storage and distribution of relief supplies.
International Response
4. The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team held meetings with the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), the Civil Defence Committee (CDC) and the Citizen Initiative to coordinate emergency operations. The Team has established an On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC).
5. The OSOCC provides a coordination platform for collection, analysis, prioritisation, exchange and dissemination of information among all key players including non-governmental organizations. A first meeting was held to exchange information and discuss further strategies, with the national authorities, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, UN agencies, inter-governmental organizations, bilateral government/agency representatives, the Red Cross movement and financial institutions.
6. UNICEF is providing technical support to the Health Task Force. Mobile emergency health teams have been set up to provide health, water and sanitation services and public education to affected communities. 15,000 Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) packages, 100 large water containers and 6,000 buckets and dry food rations have been provided. UNICEF will support the Ministry of Health in improving monitoring of water quality.
7. WHO/PAHO is providing technical assistance and coordination, and participates in damage/ needs assessment on health and environment as follows:
- Strengthen epidemiological surveillance by the mobile teams of the Ministry of Health in affected communities and shelters
- Establish the Humanitarian Supply Management System (SUMA) to register incoming relief goods to assist in supply registration, distribution, accountability and transparency
Coordinate inter-sectoral response to the needs for the distribution of safe drinking water, and safe disposal of excreta, vector control and post disaster cleanup
- Develop public awareness and community education campaigns on safe water, personal hygiene, hand washing, prevention of diarrhoea, preparation of home made Oral Rehydration Salts, food hygiene and disinfections of homes as part of post flood cleaning
- Conduct damage assessment on health services facilities and prepare plans of post disaster rehabilitation
- Prepare different models of providing medical care in disaster situations, mobile teams, shelter care and school health and developing clinical protocols and guidelines
8. WFP will provide emergency food assistance amounting to 110 MT for 30 days for 10,000 people, particularly for pregnant and lactating women and children under five. The Government of Ecuador has made available one C130 to transport the food. In addition, WFP is pursuing the possible chartering of aircrafts and purchase of food from neighbouring countries in the region. Potential food distribution partners identified so far are: the Guyana Red Cross, the Civil Defence and a number of local NGOs. In addition, OFDA agreed to provide small boats to facilitate distribution in isolated areas.
9. UNDP has been supporting the UNDAC team in setting up of the OSOCC and will make thirty inflatable boats available, funded by OCHA.
10. The World Bank informs that an urban and environmental damage/needs assessment will be conducted from 29 January to 10 February, with a view to possible assistance in reconstruction efforts.
11. IFRC/Guyana Red Cross made a distribution of 1,015 relief packages with dry food rations on 26 January. Blankets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, rain gear, rubber boots, water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts. Assessments were carried out in Nabacalis, Golden Grove and Montrose.
12. The Government of Japan will provide emergency assistance in-kind, (equivalent to JPY 12.5 million) comprising electric generators, portable water tanks, plastic tanks and sleeping mats.
13. This situation report, together with the information on contributions and other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int
Tel. +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org
In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10
Desk Officers:
Mr. Ricardo Mena, E-mail: menar@un.org, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1455
Ms. Masayo Kondo, E-mail: kondo@un.org, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1977
Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. + 41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-367 5126
Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 1143
