IN an effort to protect residents of Albouystown who have been severely affected by the two days of flooding which occurred on Wednesday last, the Ministry of Social Protection in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has activated two flood- relief shelters in the area. The shelters are now aiding in the protection of children and their parents affected by the flood.

This was revealed through a statement issued by the ministry yesterday, which noted that the two shelters were activated at Albouystown Nursery School and Selman Fraser Nursery School.
When this publication visited the Selman Fraser Nursery School, there were a few shy of 40 persons,the majority of whom were children dwelling in the large, well ventilated room. Beds, benches and a television had been provided for the dwellers’ comfort which was evidently of high importance. A source close to the shelter also explained that when the number of persons staying reaches 40, the second nursery school, Albouystown Nursery, would then be inhabited.
It was unclear whether food had also been provided for the occupants, as one of the volunteers advised that any queries pertaining to the shelter and its operations were to be directed to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). It was revealed however, that the CDC was conducting a needs assessment to

ascertain what was needed for the full operationalising of these shelters.
Simultaneously, Major Sean Welcome of the CDC is coordinating four Damage Assessment Teams on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), Georgetown and West Demerara.
Damage Assessment Teams were also deployed by the CDC in flood- affected areas on the East Coast Demerara, Georgetown and West Demerara. The teams comprise CDC staff, volunteers and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with support from the Private Sector Commission (PSC).