-fuel, food, medical supplies being shuttled in and distributed
MINISTER of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, who has been in Region 9 since June 4, last evening said that much needed supplies are being redistributed to several affected areas in the region, including Sand Creek, the hardest hit. From all reports, this flood has been described by residents in the region as the highest ever in living memory and the high water level has been marked.
Minister Benn told the Government Information Agency (GINA) last evening that the supplies that are being sent down from Georgetown are then re-distributed into central areas.
Yesterday the minister held meetings at three locations: Culvert City, Tabatinga and St. Ignatius to update residents on the situation and what efforts are forthcoming.
On Tuesday, he said, supplies were flown into Gunn’s Strip, while two more army flights with stocks arrived yesterday. These are being distributed and today more supplies will be sent to Aishalton and Karasabai, he said.
Medical supplies, including water treatment chemicals and cleansing supplies, have also been distributed.
“Today we had an emergency evacuation, somebody from Sand Creek had an appendix,” Minister Benn said.   
Updating on the water level, Minister Benn said that over the last 24 hours the water in Lethem area has receded eight inches.
The shelters, including those at Arapaima Primary School, Culvert City Nursery School, the Christian Brethren Church and St. Ignatius Village office are in full operation and meals are being supplied to the affected residents. Persons who have been relocated to other areas are also being supplied with meals.
“The road access from Annai is still poor ….water is still on the road, running over on some parts, while some areas have reported a rise in water levels, including Pirara,” Minister Benn informed.
Despite the increase at Pirara, he said, fuel is still being shuttled over the bridge in the area and by last night ‘we expect to have over 60 barrels which will give us a two weeks’ supply”.   
Distribution of water is continuing apace, Minister Benn reported.
The army and the Regional Democratic Council are continuing to shuttle people from Moco Moco to St. Ignatius and over to Tabatinga.
All officials, including those from the Civil Defence Commission, the Region, and the Local Government Ministry, are working assiduously to deal with the situation. The Remote Areas Medical and the Red Cross, with some volunteers, are lending support.
The emergency centre is being manned continuously and there is radio contact with all the villages so there is regular reporting.
This flood is not contained in Guyana, as Roraima, in neighbouring Brazil, is experiencing its worst flood since 1976, the country’s local authorities said on Monday, according to Xinhua.
The Rio Branco rose 10.02 meters, surpassing the 9.8-meter level in 1976, and flooded 80 percent of the neighbourhoods in Roraima’s capital city, Boa Vista. It also blocked main federal highways in the state.
The state’s authorities have declared a state of emergency in almost all of the districts of Roraima.
The news agency stated that over 400 people had to leave their homes and schools in the affected areas.
The road from Manaus to Boa Vista has been washed away, and the road from Boa Vista to Bon Fim has been closed as a result of it being covered with water.(GINA)