Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Flood situation remains critical in East Suriname

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

by: Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Although the situation in several parts of Suriname’s flooded territory is stabilising, the situation in the south-eastern part of the country remains critical.

At a press briefing in the command centre of the National Coordination Centre for Disaster Management (NCCR) reporters were informed Monday, that numerous villages in the Lawa/Tapanahony area at the border with French Guiana are still submerged. Water levels continued to fluctuate, and one night of rainfall could cause a river to rise again.

Weather forecasts predict more torrential rains for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the affected areas and further to the south, said army captain Kranenburg. The expected downpour, however, is not unusual for this period of the year NCCR-coordinator Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry Slijngard added. As much as an inch of rain is forecast for certain areas.

“This is not unusual for these areas at this period of the year, but it certainly will have some effect on the water levels”, said Slijngard.

The NCCR official further stated that the organisation is already viewing an exit strategy when the situation in the affected areas improves. “There will come a moment that the situation will change from an emergency to normalcy and the NCCR will disappear from the frontline. In the phase of recovery the NCCR will remain at the background and other agencies will take over the distribution of relief goods”.

While distribution of food packages is improving, water and sanitation currently remain the major concerns. The Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) is distributing chlorine tablets throughout the area, but improving access to clean drinking water remains a major challenge. The lack of proper sanitation systems threatens the health of the population in this area. More than 70 percent of people in the affected area do not use sanitary means of waste disposal, instead using rivers, the bush and/or fields.

According to Slijngard in several villages water purifying systems were repaired and functioning again. Meanwhile, large water tanks and taps are also being distributed to the people to collect rainwater. In due course these reservoirs will be linked in a water distribution system.

As of mid-May, the health situation in the flood-hit areas appeared stable. But the risk of increasing cases of malaria, diarrhoea and other diseases remains well after the floodwaters have receded. In the Amerindian villages Tepu and Kwamalasemutu in the south close to the border with Brazil numerous cases were reported. But according to the NCCR coordinator this is not alarming. In comparison with this period in other years there is no increase. “It is just the usual numbers for this time of year”, said Slijngard.

The floods were the worst in memory. Especially for people living on the small islands in Suriname's Eastern Rivers, there was literally no place to go.

Print Page