Severe flooding affects thousands in Guyana
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Following severe flooding and responding to a direct appeal from the president and first lady of Guyana, the Church airlifted eight pallets of food and medical supplies to the South American nation Jan. 25.
President Bharrat Jagdeo appealed for international aid after more than 40 inches of rain in three weeks — the most in a century — caused flooding that killed at least six people and drove thousands from their homes.
The floods have affected more than half the population of 750,000 — causing an extreme shortage of food, water and medicine, President Jagdeo told the Associated Press. Most Guyanese live on the low-lying coast. In the area surrounding Georgetown, the capital, at least 120,000 people are affected by the flooding; an estimated 40 percent of those are children.
The Church shipment was en route to Guyana within 24 hours of the official governmental request, said Garry Flake, Church director of Emergency Response. "One of the reasons they came to us was that we are so well known for our quick response," he said.
An estimated 70 percent of the shipment, which included basic food items and two pallets of medicine and water purification tablets, will be distributed by the Office of the First Lady, said Brother Flake. The additional 30 percent will go to help Church members.
None of the 1,600 Church members in Guyana was injured or killed in the flooding, which left 120 members — including more than 30 families — displaced from their homes. They are currently refugees, said Brother Flake.
A Church-owned meetinghouse — the only Church-owned building in the country — received damage from the heavy rains and cannot be accessed, according to a report issued by the Church's Welfare Department. A rented meetinghouse is flooded and has received major damage. Missionary apartments were also damaged, said Brother Flake.
Local Church leaders are assisting members with fast offering funds and will continue to work closely with government officials and assess damage, said Brother Flake.
E-mail to: sarah@desnews.com
