🌊 Country prepares for more flooding due to heavy rainfall

Happy Monday!

This week Suriname braces for even heavier flooding while the government starts its spraying campaign against mosquitoes

Heavy rainfall causes flooding crisis in Suriname 

• Since Sunday’s heavy rainfall, the Ministry of Public Works and Spatial Planning (OWRO) has been clearing drainage ditches and canals in severely affected areas, including Pipelines 7A, 8A, and 10A, as well as Sophiaslust, Domburg, Welgedacht C, Kasabaholokreek, and Abigaëlslustweg.

• Drainage Department head Vinodh Ramautar said the work is being carried out both in-house and with contractors, but progress is limited due to a shortage of machinery, including only one available long-arm excavator owned by the ministry.

• Plans have been submitted to rehabilitate 200 kilometers of drainage ditches and trenches in Paramaribo and Wanica, but approval and additional resources are still needed to handle the growing number of complaints.

• Contractors are currently clearing discharge pipes at Pontbuiten and Winti Wai, while additional contracts have been signed for work in Rehamal and for the deployment of vacuum gully cleaners in flooded neighborhoods.

• Ramautar stressed that many drainage pipes remain clogged because the ministry lacks its own vacuum gully cleaner and is dependent on private contractors, though pipe mouths are being cleaned to improve water flow into the Saramacca Canal.

• Public Works Minister Stephen Tsang told parliament that when the government took office in July 2025, it inherited a massive backlog in infrastructure maintenance, with canals overgrown, drains clogged with waste, and much of the machinery unusable.

• Tsang said heavy rainfall between 80 and 110 millimeters on May 10 far exceeded the threshold for severe precipitation, but noted that water levels receded faster than before due to ongoing drainage improvements since September 2025.

• The government is carrying out drainage and rehabilitation works in areas such as Wintiwai, Pontbuiten, Rahimal, Leiding 10A, Domburg, Paramaribo-Noord, and Santo Boma, while also preparing additional tenders for canal cleaning and pumping installations.

• OWRO warned that spring tides linked to the new moon, combined with continued rainfall, are increasing flood risks because higher sea levels reduce the ability to discharge inland water through sluices.

• The ministry expects water levels to rise to around 2.60 meters and warned residents in flood-prone areas to take precautionary measures, especially as more heavy rain is forecast for the weekend.

• Agriculture Minister Mike Noersalim said his ministry is deploying equipment in districts including Nickerie, Saramacca, Weg naar Zee, and Commewijne, while police investigate the disappearance of some government machines.

• Government Coordinator André Misiekaba urged patience and public support, emphasizing that even countries such as Guyana, Trinidad, and the Netherlands have recently faced flooding from extreme rainfall, while budget constraints continue to limit government action.

• President Jennifer Simons announced that the government is working on both emergency relief and a long-term development plan for Paramaribo, focusing on better urban planning, improved drainage maintenance, faster deployment of machinery, and support for affected households and agricultural communities.

Government finally tackles mosquito problem in Suriname

• The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour provided clarification about the pesticides being used in Suriname’s national mosquito control program following public concerns over recent spraying campaigns.

• The aerial spraying campaign launched by the Bureau of Public Health (BOG) uses Cielo ULV, a World Health Organization-approved pesticide specifically designed for aerial mosquito control using Ultra Low Volume (ULV) spraying techniques.

• According to the ministry, the ULV method disperses the pesticide directly into the air to rapidly reduce flying mosquito populations during outbreaks or periods of severe mosquito nuisance.

• The ministry stressed that Fludora Fusion is not used for aerial spraying, but instead for indoor residual spraying on walls and ceilings in homes, healthcare facilities, and other buildings.

• Officials explained that the two products serve complementary purposes: Cielo ULV provides rapid outdoor mosquito reduction, while Fludora Fusion offers longer-term indoor protection by killing mosquitoes that land on treated surfaces.

• Authorities stated that both pesticides are WHO-approved, professionally applied according to strict national and international guidelines, and specifically intended for public health use rather than general commercial sale.

• The government emphasized that the mosquito control measures are targeted and not intended to destroy all insects or vegetation, with the primary goal being the reduction of mosquito populations and protection against diseases such as chikungunya.

• The BOG has started an intensive spraying campaign in the Blauwgrond area between May 18 and May 22 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, while also urging residents to remove stagnant water around homes and follow safety precautions during spraying operations.