Georgetown: The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) says it is deeply concerned about the flooded state of villages in Region 8, West Guyana, following severe flash floods in the area over the last two days. Four Macushi and Patamona villages – Chenapou, Waipa, Kaibarupai and Itabac – have been severely affected.
In the case of Waipa Village, the scale of damage is so immense that most of its 329 have been forced to take refuge in the village community center. The entire village has been affected and residents are residents without food and water. A similar situation has been reported for Sand Hill, a satellite of Waipa, where its 110 resident have been forced to also take refuge in a single building as no home has been left unaffected. Residents are imploring for the arrival of quick relief of food and drinking water.
Meanwhile, as of Wednesday there has been no contact with Kaibarupai. Up to late afternoon, the Village was fearful that their means of communication would be submerged and as such has been unable to provide the organization without any further updates since. Our contact in the region, via Paramakatoi Village, has been unable to communicate with Itabac but it is feared that they have also been affected as they are generally susceptible to flooding.
According to Toshao of Chenapou, Edward Mc Garrell, approximately 95 percent of his village has been affected in some way or the other. All trails in the village have been flooded, 15 houses are almost submerged and one home was washed away. In addition, the primary and nursery schools had been closed and parents had been asked to keep their children at home.
As the APA continues to gather information from the region, the organization in response to requests to food and other supplies is seeking emergency support for the affected communities. These include donations in cash or kind of food supplies (for adult and children), water, clothing, torchlights, batteries, water purifying tablets and toiletries among other vital supplies.
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