At the entrance to the airfield in Maripasoula, an isolated town in southern Guyana, residents are torn between fatalism and anger. “A few days ago I bought a gas cylinder for 120 euros”laments Junior Jean, restaurateur. “The pack of six bottles of mineral water costs 18 euros, compared to the 9 that were previously available in stores.says Pierre Koukouman, a colleague. I have little gas left and we can’t find any more. If this continues, I will be forced to close. » On the tarmac, soldiers unload a plane with 4 tons of food and water on board.
On Wednesday, November 13, the fifth rotation of a military device towards Maripasoula was carried out within the framework of the Orsec “water” plan, launched on Tuesday, October 29 by the prefect, due to the historically low level of two rivers, the Maroni to the west . and the Oyapock to the east, which caused the interruption of river transportation to the municipalities or villages further upstream. The system makes it possible to quickly mobilize important aid against “events that seriously affect the population.”
“In terms of temperatures, the 2024 dry season is not over yet [celle-ci s’étire traditionnellement de juillet à septembre]It is one of the hottest ever observed since 1967underlines Patrick Ranson, head of the Météo-France forecasting service in Guyana. It also occurs in a context of rainfall deficit of almost eighteen months. »
Due to the lack of a road, the river bordering Suriname is the main supply route for the towns of Grand-Santi, Papaïchton and Maripasoula, with 24,000 inhabitants in total. Since the end of October, although goods continue to pass through to Grand-Santi, almost no canoes return to the other two municipalities. “I have 300 tons of goods stuck in Saint-Laurent… construction materials, cement, wood, PVC and fuel.explains Jonathan Abienso, transporter in Maripasoula. I have never seen such an intense drought, the losses are enormous. » The five canoeists he works with are technically unemployed.
According to the Guyana State Services website, the Maroni is a “natural and underdeveloped watercourse”. In this river dotted with numerous “jump”or fast, canoeists fight for their knowledge to be officially recognized. “In this context, how are we going to compensate them? »Jonathan Abienso worries.
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