Bolivia - Flood Alert OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA-2001/0012
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Bolivia - Flood Alert
24 January 2001

Situation

1. Already hit by floods and mudslides last March that affected at least 1,200 families and damaged hundreds of square kilometers of crops in Bolivia's eastern districts, this year's rains are causing floods and landslides in the western and northern regions.

2. According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Bolivia, four departments have already been declared under emergency situation: La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba and Beni. Preliminary reports indicate that heavy rains during the last forty days caused serious damage to roads, houses and crops. Preliminary figures show that more than 20,000 people have been affected.

Affected area

3. The western and northern region (La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba and El Beni).

Damage

4. Available areas' figures:

El Beni: 1,500 families were affected when the Beni river overran its banks, flooding the cities of Rurenabaque and San Buenaventura.

Cochabamba: 50 has of crops affected, after rivers flooded areas around the Regional capital Cochabamba.

La Paz: landslides have affected 22 districts of the Capital City while floods hit rural areas (Loayza Province) where around 1000 people lost their crops.

Oruro: the regional capital is flooded. Some 60 families have been affected so far and 17 houses destroyed.

Emergency requirements

5. Preliminary reports indicate that food, tents, tools and blankets are required.

6. The Bolivian government has not requested international assistance so far.

7. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Contacts

Telephone: +41-22-917 1234;
Fax: +41-22-9170023;
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency: Tel. +41-22-9172010

Desk Officers: Mr. Erik Haegglund/Mr. Carlos Pereira/Ms. Masayo Kondo
Direct tel: +41-22-917 32 99/13 83/19 97

Press contact: Mr. D. Kiniger-Passigli, direct tel. +41-22-917 26 53