Guyana lies 1.2 m below sea level and has extensive but variable
rainfall which makes the country prone to natural disasters such
as floods and droughts. The country’s susceptibility to natural
disasters is further increased by the impact of changing weather
patterns due to climate change and global warming, and is
compounded by the fact that almost 90% of the population lives
along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean where flooding is more
likely to occur. In January 2005, floods devastated coastal
areas killing 34 people and affecting more than 37% of the
population. As a result, the total loss in terms of economic
activity was equivalent to $465 million US dollars. Over the
last decade, UNDP Guyana has supported Guyana in its efforts to
reduce the risk of natural disasters by working with national
institutions, the private sector and civil society to develop
human, financial, technical and legislative capacities. In 2009,
UNDP launched a four-year project to strengthen national
capacity and ensure that the cou