OCHA Situation Report No. 8
Bolivia: Floods
1 March 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from UN Agencies, the 
Bolivian Government, the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in Bolivia and UN 
Disaster Assessment and Coordination team (UNDAC) and other national and 
international partners involved in the emergency response.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

According to Bolivian Civil Defense and the information collected by the UN, 
67,899 families have been affected (more than 339,495 persons) in 8 out of 9 
departments in Bolivia.

In reference to weather forecasts from SENAMHI(1), scattered rains will 
continue in Beni and Santa Cruz. The most affected departments to date are 
Santa Cruz and Beni where the situation remains critical. There is an early 
estimate that 70,000 hectares of food and cash crops destroyed and more than 
11, 000 cattle were lost. Map 1 shows the extent of the floods on different 
dates. In Trinidad, a dyke could break should waters continue to rise.

There is an increased risk of diseases due to lack of sanitation and limited 
access to safe water. As of 22 January, health authorities reported 1452 
malaria cases, and 1660 cases of classic dengue. In addition, respiratory and 
gastrointestinal infections are increasing exponentially. Vector control 
measures are being implemented to contain the number of cases.

There are approximately 25,000 people (or 5,000 families) living in shelters in 
the entire country. According to the Civil Defense, there are a total of 27 
shelters in Santa Cruz, 44 in Beni, 2 in Cochabamba and 5 in San Julian. In 
Trinidad, schools are being used as shelters. The Government is planning to 
move those families in schools to shelter camps in order for schools to reopen. 
An OXFAM shelter expert will assist the government to evaluate optimal camp 
conditions.

National and Departmental COEs (Centros Operativos de Emergencia), UNETT (UN 
Emergency Technical Team) and the UNDAC team continue to process information 
provided by the departmental COEs operating throughout the country. SUMA 
(Humanitarian Supply management System) has been activated in Santa Cruz and 
the consolidated report from donations is being shared with the Civil Defense.

Note:
(1) National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology of Bolivia

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