Attachments
Highlights
-
At four months after the start of the rainy season in Bolivia, the overflowing rivers, landslides, and mass displacement have affected 82,201 families (approximately 287,300 people) according to the Vice Ministry of Civil Defence (VIDECI).
-
In the city of La Paz, home to Bolivia's seat of government, there is also currently a landslide risk in one section of the city that could affect more than 4,000 homes.
-
The national government reports that since November of last year the rains and flooding have cause 52 deaths. 22,433 families have suffered severe losses, and 5,542 people had to be evacuated.
-
The Ministry of Education reported that the rains and floods have affected 59 schools so far, and that some of these have suspended classes; other schools have reported structural damage.
-
In the border city of Cobija, the Acre River overflowed two weeks ago, affecting nearly 2,000 families. Most of these families have been able to return to their homes, but around 100 families are still living in shelters.
-
The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (SENAMHI) has issued warnings of possible floods through the end of March.
-
The National Government provided aid to 22,480 people in 21 municipalities of the country. The National Government has already delivered 87.8 tons of humanitarian aid, as well as cement, labour, and rental of heavy equipment for a total of Bs. 4,894,000 (US$703,160).
191,500 Children affected by flooding (of a total of 287,300 people affected)
(UNICEF estimate based on VIDECI reports through 18 March 2024)
52,000 Children in need (of a total of 78,400 people in need)
(UNICEF estimate based on VIDECI reports through 18 March 2024)
52 Deaths caused by flooding.
(VIDECI reports through 18 March 2024)
5,542 People who needed to be evacuated.
(VIDECI reports through 18 March 2024
Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs
The rainy season in Bolivia began in November 2023, and the intensity and frequency of the rain increased significantly in January 2024 with the arrival of the El Niño phenomenon. There is a 75 per cent probability that the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions will continue through the March, April, and May, with La Niña conditions likely to continue through April, May, and June (source: NOAA).
VIDECI has reported that 133 municipalities (533 communities) were affected by floods, flash floods, landslides, and other phenomena caused by persistent rainfall.
In the city of La Paz, home to Bolivia's seat of government, continuous rainy days have caused rivers to overflow, deep ditches to form, and landslides to affect communities. A total of 3,148 families have been affected, 470 people (116 families) were displaced, and there is a risk of further landslides that could affect more than 4,000 families.
In Cobija, an Amazon region city on the border with Brazil, flooding at the end of February affected more than 3,600 people. While many families who were forced to stay in shelters are now able to go home, at least a hundred families will remain in the shelters because they suffered the complete loss of their homes.
Excessive rainfall is starting to affect other regions in the country, and the following priority needs have been identified as results of flooding:
-
Proper nutrition has been affected or disrupted due to a lack of food.
-
Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services at home, school, and healthcare facilities have been reduced.
-
Children who are internally displaced have faced disruptions in access to services (healthcare, education, and safety).
-
Children, adolescents, and their families who have experienced stressful situations have been affected in their emotional well-being and are at increased risk of violence.
-
Education has been interrupted or discontinued because of lost school supplies and damage to schools.
-
The most vulnerable children and their families have lost economic income due to the disruption of their livelihoods.
Vulnerability to the threat of natural disasters increases when local governments fail to adequately manage emergencies. The recent floods highlighted limitations in municipal governments' technical and financial resources, and meeting basic needs of affected families was constrained.
The National Government, once the emergency and disaster declarations had been issued at the sub-national level, mobilized its first response and humanitarian assistance teams.
According to the VIDECI report, as of 18 March, 6,814 families (approximately 23,800 people) received government aid in 27 Bolivian municipalities; governmental humanitarian assistance totaled 86.8 tons of supplies. Additionally, the national government helped to repair and/or construct river bank retaining walls, to remove debris deposted by overflowing rivers, and to restore damaged roadways. A plan for the reconstruction of the houses that were destroyed is being formulated by the government's Social Housing Programme.In total, the national government invested a total of Bs. 4,894,000 (US $703,160.00) in relief efforts.
SENAMHI forecasts have indicated that rainfall will persist in the Amazon, Plains, Tropics of Cochabamba, Valleys, and Chaco regions. Likewise, the soil in most of the country currently is highly saturated, increasing the risk of flooding.