On 12 June 1996, the Guyanese government declared a state of national emergency in response to flooding that affected each of the country’s regions. Unprecedented volumes of rainfall were recorded throughout the country, and the inadequacy of the natural drainage systems under these circumstances resulted in the most severe flooding in the history of Guyana.
Table 1. Foreign Donor Contributions for Flood Relief in Guyana
| DONOR | CONTRIBUTION (US$) |
|---|---|
| Italy | 77,669 |
| United Kingdom | 76,000 |
| European Union | 70,420 |
| UN/DHA | 30,000 |
| Norway | 20,000 |
| OAS | 20,000 |
| Nippon Foundation | 19,400 |
| Denmark | 15,000 |
| Canada | 10,000 |
| Konica | 10,000 |
| Nissho-Iwai American Corporation | 10,000 |
| South Korea | 10,000 |
| British High Commission (London) | 3,529 |
| Israel | 1,500 |
| Maldives | 1,000 |
Approximately 35,000 people lost crops, livestock, infrastructure, and were threatened by health hazards associated with contaminated water. A concerted effort to bring relief to flood victims was set in motion, with international donor contributions being co-ordinated by UNDP. Those donations not channelled through UNDP were deposited directly into an account at the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry, and accessed by the Emergency Operations Centre.
Table2. In-Kind Contributions
| DONOR | CONTRIBUTION | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Dept. of Defence | 7 Containers MREs | 230,000 |
| Japan (JICA) | Medical Supplies | 100,000 |
| European Union | Medical Supplies | 71,500 |
| Switzerland | Medical Supplies | 58,150 |
| China | Medical Supplies | 50,000 |
| Canada (CIDA) | Medical Supplies | 45,000 |
| India | Medical Supplies | 28,010 |
| UNIECF | Public Health | 10,000 |
Table 3. Summary of Programmes and Projects
| DONOR | CONTRIBUTION |
|---|---|
| UNDP | Logistics Co-ordinator/Equipment (US$10,000) |
| PAHO | Assistance to the Health Sector. Introduction of SUMA Supply/ Management Tracking System |
| CARICOM | CDERA Disaster Relief Specialist. Supply/ Management Tracking System. |
| Suriname | 3 Public Health Specialists |
| USA | Disaster Expert |