MORE than $75 million has been provided to families affected by the MV Barima tragedy as the H.E.A.R.T. Initiative expands its recovery and support programme across Guyana.

The H.E.A.R.T. Initiative -Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust – says it has so far coordinated assistance for more than 750 affected persons across all ten administrative regions. The programme was launched on July 31 by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and is being led by Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Shepherd.

According to the Secretariat, more than $75 million has gone towards funeral, memorial and wake expenses, while families have also received food hampers, backpacks and school supplies.

Twenty families have also been approved for land and turn-key homes through the Ministry of Housing, with relocation arrangements being pursued for displaced households.

Meanwhile, authorities are fast-tracking the replacement of identification cards, passports and driver’s licences lost in the tragedy. Legal assistance is also being provided on probate, estate, and guardianship matters.

Social workers and psychologists are providing trauma support in Regions One, Three, Four, Seven and Nine, while private-sector partners have contributed financial and telecommunications assistance.

The H.E.A.R.T. Secretariat is now moving into another phase of community-level assessments and interventions.

A meeting with UNICEF representatives is scheduled for Wednesday to finalise additional support frameworks, while the initiative’s legal team is also expected to meet affected families in Region Four. (NCN Guyana)