10/3/2006
Number of Bolivian families affected by recent floods feared to hit 1,800

Reports of recent floods and ice storms in Bolivia last week triggered fears of a sharp increase in the number of affected families, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

OCHA said that 23 persons have died because of the floods, which started in January following intensive rainfall, while over 9,000 families have been evacuated and almost 13,000 people need humanitarian aid.

The emergency has so far affected almost 30,000 people.

The most affected areas are situated in the south of Pando Department and in the north of Beni Department along the rivers Beni, Madre Dios and Orthon.

“Up to 1,200 affected families need immediate food assistance along the rivers Beni, Madre Dios, and Orthon in rural areas. This figure might grow to 1,800 families according to Emergency Operations Centre,” OCHA said.

In January, intensive rainfall caused severe floods and flash floods in several parts of the country, with the rainfall over most of northern Bolivia far exceeding the historical average.

As a result, the highlands and most of the rivers of the Amazon basin overflowed, leading the Government to declare a national emergency and allowing authorities to appeal for international assistance.