The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Thursday received US$100,000 from the Government of the People’s Republic of China which will be used to provide resources to vulnerable communities during the current dry season.
The CDC is already providing support to affected communities and is engaged in activities to mitigate the impact of El Niño on the population.
“With the lack and scarcity of rain, it’s affecting our water resources. The dry weather is affecting agriculture and livestock, we are having more incidents of wildfire, forest fires and we are asking people to be careful,” Director General of the CDC, Colonel (ret’d), Nazrul Hussain said.
The Director General and the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan met for a handing-over ceremony on Thursday at CDC Headquarters, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
“Our job here is to alleviate vulnerable situations and as such, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China has engaged with us and that is the purpose of our engagement this morning,” the Director General said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador said the commitment to assist Guyana and other Caribbean countries vulnerable to climate change was made during a meeting with CARICOM earlier this year in Trinidad and Tobago.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) believes we are experiencing the hottest summer in history and we have observed that with the influence of El Niño.
“Guyana has experienced reduced rainfall, drought and expanded dry season since July this year which pose challenges to people’s lives and production,” the Ambassador noted.
She further explained that the prolonged dry season is a severe challenge that all people are facing and so it is urgent to work together to address it.
Meanwhile, the CDC is actively monitoring the effects of the dry season and mobilizing resources to assist vulnerable communities, especially with water resources.
Currently, communities along the Soesdyke Linden Highway are benefitting from water assistance from the CDC.
“There are some communities like Kuru Kururu, Swan, and some other unregulated communities like Circuitville, they are out of water, their sources have dried up so we have an exercise right now where we provide potable water to them on a daily basis,” the CDC Director General stated.
He noted that the CDC is also working with the Guyana Water Inc., and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to determine which community is in dire need of assistance during this time.
