Reporting Period: 08/23 to 09/02/2002

Significant Events:

Some 30,000 hectares of forest and natural grazing lands were destroyed by last week's fire in the Tarija region. The major concern is that the vast affected basin constitutes the main water source for human consumption and irrigation of the city of Tarija and the surrounding rural communities. Since the fire consumed a large part of the protecting vegetation, there is the risk that, during the next rainy season, runoff will erode the soil and carry sediments that will

Reporting Period: 08/17 to 08/22/2002

Significant Events:

Some 30,000 hectares of forest and natural grazing lands were destroyed by last week's fire. WFP's counterpart in coordination with Civil Defense and government authorities conducted an initial assessment. Although some families were affected, no fatal victims were reported. WFP supported fire-fighting volunteers with tools and transportation. The pastures and forest that caught fire are important livelihood sources for surrounding communities. WFP conducted a food security assessment that

PRRO 6139.0

Reporting Period: 08/13 to 08/21/2002

a) Significant Events:

An armed roadblock caused the temporary suspension of food deliveries to 1,400 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Cantagallo, Morales, Rio Viejo, and Yondó. The food is currently being kept in the nearby the city of Barrancabermeja until security conditions improve.

WFP met with other UN agencies in Colombia concerning the security conditions of its beneficiaries and staff involved

Situation

1. The United Nations Resident Coordinator's office in Bolivia informs that a massive fire broke out on 17 August in the forest of the Sama Hills National Park, located in the Cercado province of the Tarija department in southern Bolivia. The fires started apparently caused by slash-and-burn activities, a common traditional practice, and were fueled by strong winds. They are now spreading toward Tarija City.

2. So far between 15,000 and 20,000 ha

No injuries had been reported from the fire, which has already consumed 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of forest in the Andean nation, according to initial estimates by Defense and Presidential Ministers Freddy Teodovich and Carlos Sanchez.

Local farmers are thought to have caused the fire that is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from significant Bolivian