CDC receives $67.5M emergency items from U.S Southern Command

– to strengthen country’s emergency response capacity
THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Monday received emergency relief supplies from the United States (U.S) Naval Forces Southern Command. The items were handed over at the CDC’s
warehouse, Base Camp Stevenson, Timehri.
Chairman of the CDC, Colonel Rt. Chabilall Ramsarup, in his brief remarks, expressed Government’s appreciation to the Southern Command group in boosting the CDC’s capacity, which to date, does not only include the donation of these items but also include training and the construction of the Timehri warehouse among others.
He posited that these items will make a positive impact in the event of a disaster and other emergencies such as search and rescue exercises.

Charge d’ Affaires Thomas Pierce highlighted the importance of being able to adapt and respond to disasters, which is a key part of the goals of the US in the Caribbean.

“Partnership is a critical mechanism for effective disaster preparedness and response,” Pierce said.

He disclosed that recently, the US Military Liaison Office (MLO), working in consultation with the CDC, determined which items aligned to the needs of Guyana. The Department of Defence then agreed to Guyana as the destination for the items.

These items in additional to a large amount of high-nutritional meals donated in August, will be managed by the CDC until the need arises. Pierce added that the aim is to bolster Guyana’s response capacity to deal with emergencies as a result of natural or man-made disasters, not only in the country but outside as well.

The items, which amounted to $67.5 M, included refrigerators, televisions sets, bath towels, cots, blankets, gas lanterns, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, bed spreads generators, cookware, and a forklift among others.

Earlier this year, Guyanese benefitted from medical and other services from the crew aboard the HSV Swift and the USS Iwo Jima, two naval ships which arrived in Guyana in August and October respectively, as part of the Southern Partnership Station’s annual deployment exercise to the Caribbean and Latin America.

The CDC, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has been proactively engaging Government agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders in developing a comprehensive national disaster preparedness plan through extensive training workshops.

(GINA)

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