U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) has called on the U.S. Agency for International Development to speed supplies to Guyana in the wake of torrential rains that have affected about 300,000 people--a quarter of that nation's population.

“Tens of thousands of people have lost homes and livelihoods because of the severe flooding in Guyana," Schumer said in a Feb. 3 news release. "The focus must now be to ensure that those affected, particularly children, have access to food, shelter, supplies and medicines to stop the situation getting worse." Schumer said.

The New York senator forwarded to US AID a list of supplies the Guyana government says it needs: "drainage/irrigation mobile pumps; 4x4 trucks; generators; inflatable dingys; small flat bottom aluminum boats; retractable bridges; food; forklifts; outboard engines; wet weather wear; shelter goods; and plastic high capacity water tanks as well as smaller containers for carrying water."

Schumer noted that officials in Guyana are concerned that "contaminated water, insects and rodents could spread fatal diseases." He requested that  "these emergency supplies be provided to the flood victims as soon as possible."                 —Donald H. Harrison