OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Bolivia - Floods
22 March 2001


Emergency Plan for the Agricultural Sector (Financial Requirements)
Presented to the International Community

Situation

1.  The United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in La Paz informs
that a total of 52,913 families have been affected by the recent floods,
according to the report prepared by the National Civil Defense Service
(SENADECI) dated 5 March. Bolivia 's nine departments have been hit by
rains and flooding, but the most affected are La Paz (23,334 families
affected), Cochabamba (12,902) Potosí (6,767) and Beni (3,651).

2.  According to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC), the heavy rainfall over the past months in the
'altiplano' region has severely affected the lower departments of the
country, with rivers overflowing their banks and causing floods. In the
Chaco zone, many of the areas, which were severely affected by drought,
are now experiencing flooding.


National Response

3.  The Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the World Food
Programme (WFP)  and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), has
prepared an Emergency Plan for the Agricultural Sector amounting to
approximately USD 7.4 million, which was presented to the international
community for financing.

Emergency Plan for the Agricultural Sector
2001/2002 Consolidated Financial Requirements

   |----------------------+-------------|
   |      Components      |  Cost (USD) |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | 'Food for Work'      |   2,000,000 |
   | Programme            |             |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | Seeds and Fertilizers|   4,260,660 |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | Agriculture          |     300,000 |
   | Sanitation           |             |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | Livestock Sanitation |     300,000 |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | Small Tools          |     200,000 |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | Solar Tents and      |     300,000 |
   | Sand Bags            |             |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | Follow-up and        |      60,000 |
   | Supervision          |             |
   |----------------------+-------------|
   | Total                |   7,420,660 |
   |----------------------+-------------|



International Response

4.  Expressing its solidarity and support to the Government and people of
Bolivia, the General Assembly adopted on 14 February, without a vote, a
resolution on assistance to Bolivia as a result of the flooding
experienced in recent months.  By that resolution, the General Assembly
urged all Member States, specialized agencies and other organizations and
organs of the United Nations system, together with international financial
institutions and non-governmental organizations, to continue responding
generously to Bolivia in its emergency.

5.  According to WFP, three teams, composed of the World Health
Organization (WHO), WFP, NGOs, USAID and national agencies, carried out an
assessment in the affected areas to quantify requirements. WFP has so far
provided 634 tons of food to 10,100 families and anticipates to distribute
some 283,500 food rations during the next few weeks. On 20 February WFP
approved an Emergency Operation Program for Bolivia, worth USD 1.9
million. The operation is aimed at supporting some 94,320 flood and
drought victims.

6.  IFRC made the first distribution of relief items in Oruro and Huanuni
in the department of Oruro on 20 February. A total of 636 affected
families received aid parcels:  food parcels for a period of 1 month and
non-food items such as hygiene materials and kitchen equipment. On 10
March 2001, distribution of additional food parcels and kitchen utensils
for 1,300 families took place in the town of Huanay and surrounding areas
of La Paz department.

7.  Information on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking
on Financial Tracking on the OCHA website, http://www.reliefweb.int .

8.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by
item.  Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions
to this disaster using the OCHA Standardised Contributions Recording
Format.

9.  OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used
for immediate relief assistance, in co-ordination/consultation with
relevant organisations in the United Nations system.  Funds should be
transferred to OCHA account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at
the UBS AG, P.O.  Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: "OCHA ?
Bolivia Floods."  OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and
pertinent details concerning the utilisation of the funds contributed.

10.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA website at http://www.reliefweb.int




Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Mr. Erik Haegglund / Mr. Carlos Pereira / Ms. Masayo Kondo
  Direct tel: +41-22-917 32 99/13 83/19 97

Press contact:  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53


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