In the early weeks of 2005, the South
American country of Guyana suffered record
levels of rainfall which resulted in severe
flooding. Hundreds of thousands of people
were affected, particularly in the coastal
areas where over 300,000 people were displaced.
Response
The HF USA team co-ordinated with the
local team in Guyana who had assessed
the scale of the damage and the nature
of help required. Food distribution centres
were established in the hardest hit coastal
areas. Medical Camps were also set up
in the Annandale and Pleisance regions.
Three teams of doctors and support personnel
were sent out immediately and the first
priority was to prevent the spread of
water-borne diseases and to treat the
injured.
Outcome
Victims
helped
>4,500
patients
Aid
delivered
>$700,000 medical supplies
c. 9,000 boxes of meals.
Several containers of supplies were shipped
to Guyana in co-ordination with the Guyanese
Embassy.
The HF effort helped local authorities
to stabilise the coastal areas. The speed
and quality of the HF response was appreciated
by the Guyanese President, Prime Minister
and Minister of Health.
Since the initial disaster response,
HF have now set up a Computer Training
Facility there to provide long-term training
to the victims.
