This report covers the period 01 January 2010 to 30 June 2010In brief

Programme purpose: National Societies in the Caribbean region are implementing efficient, responsive and focused programmes that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people. These programmes are aligned with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)? Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the IFRC's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Programmes summary: The first half of

Georgetown, GINA, September 3, 2010

Government continues to monitor the current extended La Nina period that is affecting livelihood in the hinterland regions. Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development in collaboration with the Amerindian Affairs Ministry to dispatched the variety of food stuff to aid the residents of North and South Pakaraima, Region Nine, which has been waterlogged for almost six weeks.

The relief effort is being spearheaded by Ministers of Local Government and Regional Development and Amerindian

Georgetown, GINA, July 4, 2010

Residents of Chinawying, an Amerindian community in Region Seven, who were affected by La Nina, were given food materials and other equipment by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Agriculture Ministry.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, Permanent Secretary Colin Croal and Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, George Jarvis recently visited the village to provide support to the residents and provide solutions to issues that were affecting them.

Food items were distributed to residents

A total of 23,986 Swiss francs (22,379 US dollars/ 16,340 euro) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to deploy 2 Regional Intervention Team (RIT) members to perform initial damage and need assessments and provide support to the National Societies of Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago due to the effects of the drought.

Summary: At the beginning of January 2010 several Caribbean countries began experiencing severe water shortages due to lack of rain, which affected the agricultural sector. The Caribbean

Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2010

The prolonged El Nino dry conditions severely affected farmers hence a $300M assistance package was announced by President Bharrat Jagdeo to support them. Of that total, $20M will be utilized to purchase seed paddy and fertilizers for residents of De Hoop, Mahaica, Region Four.

This was announced by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud who was accompanied by senior technical officers of the Ministry, members of the Guyana Rice Development Board and Rice Producers Association during a meeting with farmers on Wednesday to discuss agricultural

This report covers the period 01 January 2009 to 31 December 2009.

Programme purpose: National Societies in the Caribbean region are implementing efficient, responsive and focused programmes that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people. These programmes are aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Programmes summary:

In regards to the humanitarian challenges

-helping farmers to recover from El Nino

Georgetown, GINA, April 30, 2010

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud today visited farmers at Leguan and Wakenaam to launch a national recovery programme for rice farmers who suffered from the effects of El Niño.

In addition, the programme will be assisting other communities that have been affected.

The support programme will be two-fold: seed paddy and fertilisers will be distributed to the farmers who had lost their crops. This assistance will also be given countrywide.

The programme is being implemented by

The Guyana Hydrometeorological Office (Hydromet) today stated that the current weather condition is not a confirmed indication of the end of the prolonged El Nino period. However, it is a transition phase, whereby there is a shift from dry to wet climatic conditions.

Hydrologist Garvin Cummings said that the weather conditions that the Coast has been experiencing for the past few days are a result of the influences of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone.

"The Inter-tropical Convergence Zone has been influenced by a sub-tropical jet in the upper atmosphere,

Georgetown, Gina, April 5, 2010

President Bharrat Jagdeo spent the earlier part of his Easter holiday in the Rupununi, engaging in important discussions with Region Nine Toshaos on the challenges and solutions to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon which has wreaked havoc in several communities.

Accompanied by Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and representatives of the Guyana Water Incorporated, the President told the Toshaos gathered at the St. Ignatius benab that Government is fully aware