Residents of the flood hit Potaro Siparuni, Region Eight are calling on the authorities and kind-hearted Guyanese to reach out and assist them with some basic food and medical supplies.
Speaking with INews today (May 19, 2017) Michael Mc Garrell of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) reported that the water has begun receding which has since given rise to fear of water-related diseases affecting persons.
The APA, he said, has already dispatched, today, a planeload of basic food, medical and other cleaning supplies.
He said too the APA has already dispatched staff on the ground in the affected areas to better coordinate a response.
Asked about assistance provided by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Mc Garrell told this publication he is only aware of a flyover which was conducted.
He questioned why the CDC team did not land since the airstrips are dry and further the teams doing the flyover were at extremely high altitudes.
Mc Garrell told INews: “we are not aware of any efforts by the CDC to take in supplies into the affected communities”.
The Potaro River began over-topping yesterday after three days of continuous rainfall in the hinterland region.
Several houses were quickly inundated with reports of one such building being completely washed away by the flash floods.
The communities most affected include Kaibarupai, Sand Hill, Chenapau and Waipa.
Kaibarupai according to press reports, is the hardest hit, with landslides leading to over-topping of the Ireng River too.
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