NEWS: Flooded Guyana Asks U.S. Military For Assistance

The government of Guyana has requested the assistance of the U.S. Military to aid in evacuating people stranded in remote villages. The request is for the U.S. to provide small boats. The country has seen over 25 inches of rain in the month of January and flooding is said to be the worst in over a century. The death toll is now at three, but the threat of waterborne diseases is extremely significant.



Guyana is known as the "land of many waters", a phrase which now seems to have more significance than before. I would be highly dissappointed if the U.S. military didn't provide assistance to the people of Guyana. I can't believe they are "considering" it, come on, they're asking for boats!! It is interesting to note, that even though Guyana is a poor third world country, they still managed to donate $150,000 to the Asian tsunami relief efforts. I only wish there would be more attention paid to the situation in Guyana, a corrupt government cannot benefit from aid that is being sent to the country by it's former citizens. I also want the U.S. to act quickly on this too.

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Floods Ravaging Guyana, South America


[edit on 1-21-2005 by worldwatcher]

Thank You US for acting quickly. Hopefully disaster that can be averted.
U.S. joins flood relief drive

THE United States government has deployed specialists here and is flying in boats to help evacuate flood victims as the international response to the Guyana Government’s appeal for help gathers momentum.

The International Red Cross has flown in supplies and Brazil said it is tomorrow flying in another shipment of relief items to help meet the needs of tens of thousands of flood victims.

Officials said plans for a massive tent city for some 20,000 displaced residents at the Timehri racing circuit were getting off the ground and food delivery and health teams yesterday continued fanning out in Georgetown and other affected areas on the East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara.

The danger of water rising further on the East Coast Demerara eased a bit yesterday with more pumps being deployed to drain off flood waters.

Mr. Ravi Narine, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board (NDIB), told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the level of the flood water had fallen between Mahaica and Enmore.

However, the level of the water between Enmore and Georgetown had only stabilised due to overtopping from the East Demerara Water Conservancy, he told GINA.

Many villages remained under several feet of water and thousands of residents flocked higher ground on the main roads and gathered at shelters to collect food and other supplies.

and sadly 3 more bodies were found, bring the death toll to 5 or 6 depending on different sources.
Three more bodies found in flood waters



[edit on 1-22-2005 by worldwatcher]