Cereals prices have been rising in recent months and are much higher than international prices.

The country has been affected by widespread drought and fires which have severely impacted on food security conditions.

According to international agencies the country is faced with a worrying food security situation and thousands of people are in need of food assistance.

The Government has lifted its export ban on maize.

In the Americas, traditional cooperation funds appear to be diminishing under the rationale that the continent has positive economic indicators. However, as the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report 2010 clearly demonstrates, inequality particularly in health, education and income reduces the positive performance in Latin America and the Caribbean by one-fourth with Haiti, Bolivia, Guatemala, Peru, and Panama showing the most substantial inequalities. In fact, the Americas region is the most unequal in the world, exacerbating vulnerability

Vital Climate Change Graphics shows impact of changing conditions and possibilities for climate action

Cancun (Mexico), 6 December 2010 - The climate change challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean have been laid out in graphic detail in a new publication by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Using charts, graphs and maps, Vital Climate Change Graphics for Latin America and the Caribbean depicts the major signs of climate

The Bolivian Red Cross with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) addressed the needs of 1,560 families in the departments of Cochabamba and La Paz. Families were provided with basic

, informó a Enlared-Onda Local la responsable de Prevención y Emergencia de la administración departamental, Fidelia Quiuchaca.

Quiuchaca aclaró, sin embargo, que si bien existen las resoluciones que declaran la emergencia municipal, éstas deben ser completadas con el respectivo informe técnico:

"Tenemos 19 resoluciones de los municipios de La Paz donde resuelven estado de emergencia por desastre y riesgo ambiental, depende del lugar. Entonces, a ellos les falta que nos hagan conocer el informe técnico".

TRINIDAD, Bolivia, Jul 7, 2010 (IPS) - An early warning system to alert people living in the lowlands of the northern Bolivian department of Beni about imminent flooding of the mighty Mamoré and Ibare rivers is saving lives, food and goods, and overcoming the uncertainty that led to enormous losses in the past.

"La gateadora (the crawling flood) is the most dangerous because it is relentless, and rises stealthily," César Cortez, an experienced 72-year-old farmer, told IPS as he relaxed in the dry season in the main square of San Pedro Nuevo, 56 kilometres

- Cereal prices in major markets have shown a declining trend but local cereal prices are still much higher than international prices.

- Food security of many families has been affected by the El Niño phenomenon which caused heavy rains and floods.

- There is consensus among concerned agencies on a serious hunger problem in the long term.

- The government has implemented temporary trade measures to maintain low prices and guarantee domestic food supply.

"There are major floods and landslides every spring in several parts of the country and we have been working with the Bolivian Ministry of Health to plan a response," said Glen Shepherd, President of Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC). "We are thankful for the financial donations from a variety of Canadians that have made this possible."

HPIC pulled together almost $160,000