CIVIL DEFENCE COMMISSION  Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, . Phone: (592)226-1114, 226-8815, 225-5847, 226-1027; Fax: 592-225-0486 Website: http://www.cdc.gy; E-mail: [email protected]

SITUATION REPORT # 4

SUBJECT: Flooding in Regional Democratic Council (RDC) – Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo (Region 9), Guyana.

Date: June 11, 2011

EVENTS: There has been continuous heavy rainfall in Region 9 and in the Roraima State of Brazil resulting in the Rio Branco, Ireng and Takutu Rivers overflowing their banks. As a result of this event, Lethem and its environs and other low lying areas of Region 9 have become inundated with flood water.

PROGNOSIS The Hydrometeorological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture forecasted that Region 9 can expect mostly cloudy conditions with occasional showers for the rest of the weekend. The completion of the works on the road, bridges, and culverts by the Ministry of Public Works and Communication and hired contractors is expected to make the road from Kurupurari to Lethem passable.

IMPACT A total of sixty one (61) Amerindian communities in Central, South Central, North, Deep South and South Pakararaimas have been impacted by the floods in Region 9. Water continues to recede in all of the impacted areas, with the most significant decrease in Central Rupununi which includes Lethem and its immediate environs.

INFRASTRUCTURE/TRANSPORTATION UPDATE Roads: The Ministry of Public Works and Communication in collaboration with hired contractors continues to execute works to rectify the damaged sections between and Annai and along the Hunt Oil Stretch. The sections of the roads in Pirara that are overtopping are being monitored. The Minister of Public Works and Communication, the Honorable Robeson Benn conducted an assessment of the access way from Lethem to Pirara on Friday, June 10, 2011. Additionally, Mr. Leon Goring, Engineering Coordinator of Ministry of Public Works and Communication arrived in the Region on Friday, June 10, 2011 and is currently conducting detailed assessment of the bridges, road ways, culverts and other infrastructures and prioritizing the works to be executed.

Bridges: The restoration works on the four (4) damaged bridges along the Annai-Lethem stretch have been completed by the Ministry of Public Works and Communication and the hired

One people. Prepared. Protected.

contractors. The team is now working on the Araquai and Karaudanawa Bridges in Deep South Rupununi and the Najah Bridge in Central Rupununi.

Culverts: Assessment of some of the inundated culverts in the region commenced on Saturday, June 11, 2011 by Ministry of Public Works and Communication in collaboration with hired contractors with the aim of repairing the damaged culverts. Four culverts between Lethem to Pirara have been slightly damaged.

Airstrips: Only the Sand Creek main airstrips remain inoperable. The alternative airstrip at Sand Creek is operational.

Public Transportation Services: As soon as the water receded at Pirara and assessment and rectification works completed it is expected that public transportation via off road vehicles from Kurupurari to Lethem will recommence. The Guyana Defence Force and the Regional Democratic Council discontinued the transportation of residents to and from Central Lethem, and to the immediate environs on Saturday, June 11, 2011. A total of approximately 20000 persons were transported to date.

HOUSING AND PUBLIC BUILDING UPDATES Schools: The Arapaima Nursery, Culvert City, St. Ignatius Nursery, Primary, and Secondary are schedule to reopen on Monday, June 13, 2011. The Regional Democratic Council will be coordinating the cleaning and treatment of schools before they are reopened.

Government Buildings: All Government buildings are now operational

Residents Homes: Displaced residents have commenced returning to their homes. Cleaning supplies are being distributed to the residents to clean their homes.

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE UPDATES All the businesses have begun preparation to reopen and continue the assessment of the damages and losses. Information on business and commercial activities in the other parts of the region is still being awaited. An assessment of the stock level of fuel and cooking gas is being conducted.

UTILITY UPDATES Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T): The water level around the exchange in Lethem has completely receded. A resupply of fuel for the facility has departed Georgetown to Lethem on Saturday, June 11, 2011. The landline phone that is located at Sand Creek is now serviceable.

Digicel: No new development

Lethem Power Company (LPC): Power is still being supplied 16 hours daily to Lethem. The Regional Democratic Council completed the shuttling of fuel from Pirara to Lethem across the inundated section of the road. A total of 160 drums of fuel have been delivered to the company.

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Guyana Water Inc (GWI): Residents of the affected communities are being provided with water treatment tablets, solutions and collapsible bottles to store water for drinking purpose. All GWI wells are fully operational as of Saturday, June 11, 2011.

SHELTER UPDATES One of the seven (7) shelters has been closed on Saturday, June 11, 2011 and residents that were relocated to private homes are returning to their homes. A total of 107 persons remain in the six (6) established shelters. By the end of Sunday, June 12, 2011, the two schools that are used as shelters will be closed and prepare for reopening on Monday, June 13, 2011.The Amerindian Hostel will be used to accommodate the shelterees from the schools who can not relocated to their homes.

FOOD AND RATION UPDATES The Civil Defence Commission, Ministry of Health, Guyana Red Cross Society and UNICEF in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force Air Corps continue to stockpile rations and other essential items at Lethem. Remote Area Medical Services (RAMS) and Air Service Limited continue to shuttle supplies to the sub-district of Annai, , Sand Creek and . From these sub-districts supplies are districted to the affected communities by the relief distribution teams and coordinated by the District Emergency Operations Center. The shelters continue to prepare food for shelterees and affected residents on a daily basis. To date over 12,000 hot meals have been distributed to residents and shelterees. Three (3) plane loads of supplies, two Guyana Defence Force Y-12 and one Air Service Limited Cessna 206 aircraft, arrived at Lethem yesterday, Saturday, June 11, 2011. Limited amount of cooking gas is available in central Rupununi. The business community is making all efforts to source gas to maintain adequate supplies for the residents.

WATER DISTRIBUTION UPDATES Water and water treatment tablets are being distributed to the residents daily. A total of 75000 gallons potable water has been distributed to residents to date. RAMS continues to distribute potable water to the affected residents daily. RAMS and GWI are collaborating to ensure that the water pumped from the wells that were affected by the flood water is safe for human consumption.

HEALTH UPDATES The Ministry of Health representative in the region reported a few cases diarrhea, vomiting and skin infection in the regions. All affected persons were treated. No serious case was reported. The two (2) Medex that arrived on Thursday, June 09, 2011 were deployed to Tiger Pond North Rupununi and Jawari Central Rupununi. Two (2) additional Medexes are expecting in Lethem on Monday, June 13, 2011. Representative from the Ministry of Health continue to visit established shelters and conducting examination and briefing of the persons housed in the shelters. Fumigating of Lethem and the immediate environs continues and preparation for similar activities in the other part of the region is being made. The shelters are being cleaned and prepared for the resumption of school tomorrow, Monday, June 12, 2011. The Guyana Red Cross

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Society has distributed a number of hygiene kits to the shelterees. Additionally, the REOC is coordinating the distribution of sanitation kits as residents return to their homes.

AGRICULTURE UPDATES The Ministry of Agriculture continues to assess and monitor the affected areas and provided assistance to the affected residents. A cassava mill was deployed to Aishalton on Saturday, June 11, 2011 to assist the residents in processing the cassavas that were harvest early because of the flooded conditions.

EDUCATION UPDATE All efforts are being made to reopen the four (4) schools on Monday, June 13, 201. Students from Arapaima and the St. Ignatius Primary School will be sitting their Grade 2 Assessment Examination on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Also, Grade 4 Assessment Examination will be written on Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17, 2011.

SECURITY UPDATE No serious breaches were reported.

ADDITIONAL RELIEF PROVISIONS The Guyana Red Cross Society, UNICEF, Air Service Limited and RAMS through the Regional Emergency Operations Centre (REOC) continue to provide assistance to the affected residents. The Ministry of Public Works and Communication, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and other line agencies at Lethem, and the Civil Defence Commission continue to support the Regional Democratic Council in the coordination of the relief efforts. The Regional Emergency Operations Centre at the Regional Guest House remains activated.

OTHER UPDATES The Minister of Amerindian Affairs, the Honorable Pauline Sukhai and team visited the affected communities, the REOC and shelters in Central Rupununi on Saturday, June 11, 2011 and visited the sub-district of Aishalton for a few days to conduct further assessment and provide relief to the affected communities.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND PRIORITY ACTIONS  Food Supplies  Disinfectant  Medical Supplies  Cleaning Supplies  Water purification tablets and solutions  Restoration of bridges, culverts  Reopening of closed schools  Fumigating of affected areas  Closing of shelters 4

 Treatment of wells with Calcium Hydrochloride  Provision of fuel to key installations  Movement of supplies from Pirara to Lethem.

REGIONAL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE (REOC)

Contact Information

Address: State House, Lethem, Region 9

Telephone #: (592) 772-2020

FAX: (592) 772-2020

NATIONAL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE (NEOC)

Contact Information

Address: Civil Defence Commission, Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

Telephone #: (592) 226-1114, 226-8815, 226-1027 or 225-5847

FAX: (592) 225-0486

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

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