Farms in the Region Seven village of Kako were ravaged by this week’s flooding, according to Toshao, Casey Hastings and the government is continuing to channel supplies to communities inundated by rain-swollen rivers.
Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams made a contribution to on-going flood relief efforts with the delivery of food and medical supplies to her hometown of Kako.
The minister delivered bed nets, potable water filters, cough syrup, cleaning detergents and other basic supplies to the village’s Toshao, Hastings, for distribution to the residents in Kako whose homes and livelihood were affected.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Hastings-Williams coordinated the activity after receiving word that residents were in need of the items.
In the wake of heavy rainfall in the highlands of Region Eight, beginning on May 17, Kaibarupai, Waipa, Chenapau, Sand Hill Settlement, Itabac and Kanapang in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Paruima, Kako, Jawalla, Phillipai, Kamarang and Quebanang in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have been hit by flooding.
“It saddened me to hear that a lot of families were affected by the flood, particularly their livelihood… I came here in person to see and hear from the Toshao and other residents what has been the damage and to render whatever assistance is necessary to bring back normalcy to the village,” the minister was quoted as saying by GINA.
Hastings was very appreciative of the gesture by the minister, GINA said, before adding that praises were also given for the timely response of the region in reaching out to the affected communities and residents.
Commenting on the effects of the flood, the Toshao said while only four homes were completely under water, the farms in the communities have been ravaged by the flood.
“Water was very high in the community for the first time in my lifetime and 124 households were affected… Water either covered the farms or we had water coming through the soil and destroying the crops,” he added.
Meanwhile, GINA reported that as the water recedes, government continues to forward supplies to the region. The Region Seven, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has also begun to lead an effort aimed at assessing the impact of the flooding and the current high water levels in the region.
This effort which has the support of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has also seen the setting up a Forward Operating Centre in Kamarang, which Minister Hastings-Williams also visited yesterday.
The centre was created to provide an open space for coordinating the relief supplies to the affected communities, Planning and Training Assistant of the CDC, Allana Walters, pointed out.
Walters, who is stationed at the Centre, explained that boards have been set up with the different communities, the total population, the households as well as the affected and tracks … what we have been able to send out, and what we are expecting to go out from this room,” she said.
Alluding to the Regional Disaster Risk Management System, which was set up earlier this year, Walters said teams were able to conduct an assessment of the region, develop maps and a plan and form a Regional Disaster Risk Management Commit-tee chaired by the Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford.
This early collaboration was crucial to the effectiveness of the region’s response to the flooding, Walters noted.
“When they (the region) got information about what was happening in the Upper Mazaruni, the Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee was able to quickly call a meeting in Bartica and from then they were able to make decisions and mobilise resources to come out and do assessments,” she explained.
“So we are very pleased that, that was able to happen and things are rolling out in that manner consistent with how the CDC looks at disasters and responses,” she added.
