Attachments
Description of the Event
Date when the trigger was met
29-09-2023
What happened, where and when?
Bolivia faced a severe environmental crisis, as a result of the climate crisis, the El Niño phenomenon, and the subsequent arrival of La Niña. Extensive areas of the country suffered from droughts, water scarcity, and an anomalous increase in temperatures. During November and December 2023, temperatures reached up to 40°C. According to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (SENAMHI), Bolivia recorded its highest historical temperature, reaching 43°C. This situation led to the death of at least 10 people due to dehydration and heat strokes.
According to the Bolivia Drought Monitor, the macro-regions of the Altiplano, Valleys, Yungas-Chapare, and Chaco were the most affected, with significant soil moisture loss and drought conditions ranging from moderate to extreme. At the departmental level, seven of the nine departments (La Paz, Potosí, Cochabamba, Oruro, Chuquisaca, Tarija, and Santa Cruz) suffered the most severe impacts. The departments of Cochabamba and Chuquisaca issued emergency declarations, and several of their municipalities declared states of disaster.
On 21 September 2023, Cochabamba issued Decree No. 5585, declaring a state of emergency due to the water crisis and urging the population to use water resources responsibly. Rainfall in the department was the lowest recorded since 1950, with less than 200 millimeters. Similarly, on 27 September 2023, the Autonomous Departmental Government of Oruro, responding to the drought’s impact on more than 200 communities, enacted Departmental Decree No. 235, declaring a departmental disaster. Chuquisaca also declared an emergency for frost and drought on 14 September, affecting more than 68,690 families.
In January 2024, extreme weather events persisted, shifting this time towards heavy rainfall. Heavy rains caused landslides in El Torno, Santa Cruz, and certain areas of La Paz, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure. The Bolivian Red Cross reported that approximately 3,500 people were displaced. Consequently, local authorities declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, including the departments of Potosí, Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz, La Paz, Cochabamba, and Chuquisaca.
For more information on this emergency, please review the following videos: https://ifrcorg.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/IFRCSharing/EhoriRmvgBAnKluW7O63FwBkt9z12OcD1o36l_ 2LO4tvw?e=Zsmo6k