The indigenous communities in Guyana have received a boost in their fight against the ravages of COVID-19 with a donation of US$200,000 from the Republic of France.
In a recent release, the French Ambassador to Suriname and Guyana (based in Paramaribo) on behalf of his government, acknowledged that the indigenous communities living in the Amazon rainforest have been particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, in response to a request for emergency aid to support indigenous peoples in the Amazon, France has contributed US$2 million (€1.8 million) to the “Amazon Emergency Fund”.
This donation is being managed by the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA), an indigenous organisation that focusses its efforts on the promotion, protection, and security of indigenous peoples and territories through the defence of their ways of life, principles, social, spiritual and cultural values.
The French donation was divided by COICA among the eight sovereign states covered by the Amazonian rainforest, which saw Guyana receiving US$200,000 in financial help. It is expected to provide “immediate and necessary assistance” for the 88 indigenous communities from all over Guyana, currently suffering from the negative impacts of the global pandemic.
When the COVID-19 crisis hit Guyana, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), raised concerns for indigenous communities that are isolated and experience limited access to health care services. According to the release, during July and August, the three regions which contain the majority of the population of indigenous peoples, have been severely affected by the pandemic. In addition to the disease, the villages suffer from shortage of food and medical supplies.
The APA, which has promoted and defended the rights of indigenous peoples in Guyana for almost 30 years, was chosen by COICA to coordinate and efficiently implement the French financial assistance. In collaboration with local leaders, APA’s immediate objectives are to provide humanitarian support, food relief, medication, sanitisation supplies, as well as reinforce awareness on preventing the spread of the virus, the release added.
