OCHA Situation Report No. 15
Bolivia: Floods
26 March 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from the Office of
the Resident Coordinator, UN Agencies, the Bolivian Government, the UN
Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in Bolivia and OCHA Regional Office in
Panama.

HIGHLIGHTS

- The total number of affected families increased to 97,000, as reported
by the Civil Defense on 18 March. The death toll stands at 75.

- WFP estimates that about 30,000 affected families are facing food
insecurity.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. Recent rains in the lower regions have contributed to further
deteriorate the situation in the already flood affected families and have
hit new regions generating more displaced families and the destruction of
vital infrastructure and crops. The total number of affected families
increased to 97,000 as reported by Civil Defense on 18 March. The death
toll stands at 75 people.

2. The ESAE (Evaluation of Food Security, WFP) estimated that about 30,000
affected families by the floods are facing food insecurity. Among them,
some 17,000 families are at risk of losing their livelihoods, making this
group even more vulnerable.

Situation per Department

Beni

3. Recent rains have increased water levels again in de Department by 2 cm
per day, particularly in the Trinidad city area. As water levels are
expected to further rise, it is likely that the number of affected
families in remote communities will increase. The population is concerned
about a new wave of water from the Department of Santa Cruz. The Service
for Improved Amazon Navigation SEMENA expects the floods to last at least
until mid April, leaving the shelters in place for at least another 45
days.

4. Of the total 430,049 inhabitants of the Beni Department, at least
88,000 persons have been affected (19,892 families). Of this total, some
5,234 families (or 23,147 persons) are living in shelters: 33 in urban
shelters (4,416 families) and 6 in rural shelters (818 families).

5. There are concerns about the sanitary situation in the shelters. The
departmental health Emergency Operation Center (COE) informs that 51
additional latrines and 49 water tanks are needed, as well as containers
for waste disposal and cistern trucks to deliver water to shelter camps.
In the municipality of Trinidad, repairs to heavy machinery used to clean
the latrines disposals are needed

6. PAHO/WHO informed on the need for transportation of health personnel to
isolated rural communities. World Vision has identified needs for tents,
temporary housing, latrines, medicines, blankets and small mattresses;
UNICEF and the Departmental COE report needs for plastic boots, socks for
the sheltered families and communities and transportation for children
living in shelters, especially in Chetequije, Tradicion and Pedro Ignacio
Muiba.

Santa Cruz

7. One of the most affected region is the municipality of El Torno, where
overflows of the Pirai River and large landslides destroyed houses, roads,
bridges and crops. Almost 300 families have been evacuated and are living
in camps and shelters. There is still an unknown number of affected
families in the rural area of the municipality where access is very
difficult. The Civil Defense provided 300 10-day food rations mostly to
the rural areas. WFP will provide food to all the families in shelters. In
the same region, the 1,000 families of the community of Copa Belgica, as
well as their livestock, continue to be completely isolated due to a
collapse of the main bridge. In the municipality of Charagua,
approximately 1,400 families have been affected. The Prefecture of Santa
Cruz will distribute food in this municipality, probable by helicopters,
since there is no other means of access.

8. In the municipality of San Julian, the increase of the Rio Grande
waters have affected additional families, with the most critical situation
being that of 380 isolated families in 5 communities of Colonia Berlin.
Air transportation is needed to provide humanitarian assistance to these
families.

La Paz

9. An evaluation will be carried out to determined the amount needed in
food aid in this Department.

Cochabamba

10. Given the food security related developments, it is expected that the
amount of assisted families in the Tropical Area (Chapare) will be reduced
from 3,600 to 1,000 whereas in the highlands and valleys - where floods
have critically affected the food security of some 3,000 families in 12
municipalities - the number of beneficieries will increase.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=C433FCC7C20CE6FC49257418000D4403&file=Full_Report.pdf

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