Jesuits help flood victims in Guyana

The Jesuit Regional Superior of Guyana, Fr Joe Chira SJ, writes from Georgetown.

Though I have been living in Guyana since 1967, I have never experienced anything like this coming from Nature.  We used to say that many troubles of Guyana are man-made; now nature has also added some to our woes.

On Christmas day morning, our beautiful Sacred Heart Church was burnt to ashes along with the Rectory and the nearby school.  The school alone had more than 1300 children.  Since December 28, incessant rains have caused severe flooding to most of the coastal regions of Guyana where more than 60 percent of our people live.

Guyana's coastline lies normally about five feet below sea level.  To protect our precious land, we maintain a rather expensive sea-defence system.  Where there are no sea walls, mangrove trees do a fairly good job.  An elaborate system of dykes called kokers (water-gates) send excess water out into the rivers and the sea during the low tides.  But the unexpected heavy rains - I am told 54.5 inches (137cms) in three weeks - made all drainage canals overflow.  Water flooded the homes of people along the coast as well as in business places.  Families lost fridges, kerosene stoves, precious utensils, clothes and food, and children lost their school books to the rising water.  Business people lost their stocks.  Poultry died in their thousands.  Horses, donkeys, cows, dogs and all other animals cannot find dry land.

The government has declared large portions of Guyana disaster areas.  It has released G$200 million (£600,000) for immediate relief.  The European Union, USA, Brazil and the Caribbean Development Bank are coming to our help.  It may be possible to feed some people now.  Indeed many are cooking extra food, if they are able, and are taking it to feed those who have none to eat.  Since the flood began, groups of women in distress have been visiting our Jesuit presbytery and other presbyteries looking for food, clothes and money for their immediate needs.  We did help some.  But others I have been trying to direct to relief agencies for help.

The need is so great; it is difficult to find how to help and who we should help.  There is a National Relief Council.  We have offered our Camp Kayuka to house 100 families.  Schools and public buildings are being used to temporarily accommodate people.  In this ocean of trouble, I discovered a family with seven children between the ages 13 and two with an unemployed father and an unskilled mother, living in most appalling conditions.  Rain has been seeping through the broken board wall and roof.  To rebuild their home and make it a little more livable, we'll need about G$1.5m (£4,500).  After the flood waters recede, several families will need kerosene stoves, mattresses, food, clothes and books for children etc.

We shall surely but surely rebuild.  While we like to rely on ourselves, help from our benefactors and friends will be much appreciated.




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