THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), with assistance from the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force and the Regional Democratic Council of Region One (Barima/Waini), conducted a distribution exercise to assist Venezuelan migrants in the North West District on Thursday.

CDC Head, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig told the Guyana Chronicle that 46 non-food hampers and 36 food hampers were distributed to the migrants at Khan’s Hill outside Mabaruma as well as at White Water Village and Gajah landing near the indigenous village.
The food hampers were distributed to the CDC by DeSinco Trading while the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) also provided hampers.

Craig said a new group of migrants entered White Water village this week and the CDC has advised the Ministry of Public Health to conduct normal screening procedures including vaccination. He said another relief exercise if planned for the region in the new week.
The Guyana Chronicle recently reported on the plight faced by the migrants, including indigenous Warraus, who have taken up residence at Khan Hill and also at White Water Village.

During the visit the migrants reported the difficult circumstances under which they fled the Bolivarian Republic including being shot at by law enforcement officers as they left for Guyana. They related to the Guyana Chronicle that the situation at the moment is one of survival as they try to settle on these shores.

Many of the migrants are here for the first time while others have relatives in Guyana and have returned to build a new life here.