OCHA Situation Report No. 5 - Guyana - Floods
By OCHA
Fri, 4 Feb 2005, 10:05
Situation
1. After a day of dry weather on 1 February, rains have resumed over the coastal areas of Guyana. The forecast for the next three days indicates thunderstorms and rainfalls, which could reach up to 50 mm in some locations.
2. According to official estimates, there are between 80,000 and 92,000 persons' homes flooded, mainly but not exclusively in Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica). Further to the closing of one of the shelters managed by the national authorities, the population in shelter stands at 4,300 persons.
3. The health risks in the flood-affected areas of Guyana are a major concern. Floodwaters remain persistently high in some areas. Families living in the catchment area to the east of the Demerara River (the
Conservancy) have been highly exposed to contaminated waters for more than two weeks. The Government is working on surveillance and implementing a preventive campaign with the United Nations support.
4. The water is receding at a rate of about 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) per day.
The Joint Operations Centre (JOC) reports up to a foot (30 cm) of water in some areas of Georgetown: Prashad Nagar, North and South Sophia and the East Demerara Coast: Caneville, New Hope, Grove Housing Scheme. In Mocha, the water had risen 1 foot in 24 hours to 4 feet (120 cm) as of
31 January. There was significantly less water in other villages east and west of the Demerara River. The Government monitors hour by hour the network of dykes and conservancy areas in the affected regions in support of the draining efforts.
5. Georgetown is bordered to the north by the seawall, to the west by the Demerara River and to the south by the Water Conservancy (dykes) that retains water from a 500 square km catchment area. Dykes in the Conservancy and in various neighbourhoods were overtopped at the peak of the emergency, thus making the drainage difficult. The water is pumped into the canals and must then let out during the low tide, although some drainage channels are overgrown or blocked by garbage.
National Response
6. The Joint Operations Centre (JOC) has taken charge of the management of relief coordination meetings involving both national and international relief actors. The meetings are held daily at 16:00 hours at the JOC Headquarters. Any information that relief agencies wish to share with JOC should be sent to the following e-mail:
joc_georgetown@yahoo.com.
7. JOC, supported by the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team, is identifying ways of strengthening this national relief coordination framework. Discussions with the United Kingdom/DFID and the United States of America/OFDA indicate that they would be willing to assist the Government in enhancing information management and coordination mechanisms.
8. JOC Coordination Meetings have identified the critical need to urgently address the health risks and environmental management of the flood disaster. In addition to the constant monitoring and repairing of the Conservancy dams, technical monitoring and relief activities by the Government, the following have been agreed:
Creation of a Task Force for coordinating measures to reduce flood
impact (drainage, pumping and waste disposal)
Identification of a temporary dump yard outside of Georgetown, waste
collection/disposal from villages, planning a cleanup campaign by
boat and transport of the garbage
Mapping of vulnerable communities
Identification of health and other factors for relocating the
vulnerable group, affected by the floods
Logistical arrangements in case of relocation
9. The Guyana Citizens Initiative for Flood Relief (GCIFR) is collecting information on needs and analyzing this information against resources available. As a result, the following items have been reported as required by flood-affected communities:
Mattresses for the flood-affected population (locally available at
USD 60-80 each)
Petroleum Jelly for health-risk prevention
Medicated soaps
500 waders (high waterproof boots)- size: 200 small, 200 medium and
100 large
Rainwear for mobile teams addressing medical/health education in
flood-affected areas
Disinfectants and cleansing agents
7,000 spraying tanks, 70,000 cleaning kits including gloves, mask,
brush, buckets, soap and lime for cleaning and disinfections
10. Vector control is emerging as another important need as waters recede. The national authorities have purchased 20,000 mosquito nets for distribution to pregnant women and children less than two years. The bed nets are impregnated with pesticide. The Guyana Red Cross and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will provide another 10,000 mosquito nets, expected to arrive within two weeks.
11. Other requirements have been reported to the GCIFR as needed by NGOs and communities, include portable toilets, high-pressure hoses, plastic buckets, garbage bags and rubber boots and gloves.
International Response
12. The World Food Programme (WFP) has undertaken a rapid assessment of affected areas together with other partners. On 31 January, WFP and the Pan American Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO) visited 11 shelters on the East Coast of the Demerara River. Preliminary results showed a need to target children in the shelters with suitable foodstuffs. WFP has agreed with the national authorities on the distribution of high-energy biscuits to the shelters in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).
13. On 1 February, the UNDAC Team accompanied WFP to assess Region 4 (East of the Demerara River). The assessment team visited the following areas, still significantly flooded: Victoria, Nabaclis, Haslington Back, Hope West, Enmore, Paradise, Follis Back, Bachelors adventure, Beirut and Friendship.
14. According to the assessment, access to adequate water and food supply and the sanitary conditions are of concern in the affected communities. Dead animal carcasses bordered the roads in populated areas, and families and animals were seen sharing the same space, which at the same time was littered with garbage. The villagers also expressed a need for more medical attention. The prices of food in the local markets are reportedly increasing (20-100 per cent). Many families have lost their source of income.
15. The Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit is mobilizing two environmental experts offered by the Government of The Netherlands to support the national authorities on environmental issues. They are expected in Georgetown on 3 February and will work closely with the United Nations Country Team and the UNDAC Team.
16. A representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) is to arrive in Georgetown on 3 February to ensure the smooth transition from immediate relief to the rehabilitation phase, working closely with the UNDAC Team in this endeavour.
17. An advance team of the Economic Commission for Latin America
(ECLAC) is in Guyana for two days to prepare for an assessment mission of the long-term impact of the floods, which is planned to start as of
21 February 2005.
Response by Sector
Food and Logistics
18. WFP is working with national partners and implementing organizations (CDC and the Guyana Red Cross) on storing other logistics aspects for delivering food rations. Assessments are in progress. For registering the food distribution, WFP will receive support from the Humanitarian Supply Management System (SUMA) team, organized through PAHO.
Water and Sanitation
19. The following partners are involved in water relief efforts:
Ministries of Health, Housing & Water, Environmental Protection Agency, CDC/JOC, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Environmental Protection Agency, UK/DfID, The Guyana Red Cross/IFRC, WHO/PAHO, UNICEF, Oxfam, the Catholic Relief Services, and GCIFR.
20. Water distribution is continuing with increased transport capacity to reach the affected populations. However, the GWI has informed through the JOC that there is a need for 10 trucks in addition to the 32 already in operation.
21. It is estimated that 70,000 households and essential public infrastructure such as schools and medical facilities, are or will be in need of cleaning and sanitizing as floodwaters recede.
Health
22. At a meeting convened in Georgetown on 28 January, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States agreed to develop a plan of action to assist the Government of Guyana to avert what could develop into a health crisis in Guyana if urgent, appropriate action is not taken.
Under this plan, experts of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) will assist in developing laboratory capacity for parasitic and enteric diseases, as well as in public education for food safety. CAREC will work closely with PAHO in the immediate and medium term.
23. The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) has offered environmental health experts to assist in shelter management and water quality monitoring, while the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute
(CFNI) intends to work in the area of food safety and security, as well as nutrition education for vulnerable groups.
24. 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
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Mr. Ricardo Mena
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