From WFP-ODM Emergency Situation Report 29 August 2001
The Ministry of Agriculture, with the support of WFP and FAO, is carrying out an impact assessment of the floods and drought that occurred during the first quarter of the year. The conclusion of the assessment has been delayed due to social unrest in the rural areas and a drastic reduction of the Ministry’s personnel (because of an institutional reform).
Preliminary findings, however, will help WFP in targeting those most at risk of food insecurity.
|
Department
|
Cultivated area destroyed (hectares)
|
Number of affected families
|
% Poverty
|
| La Paz |
7,730
|
9,897
|
70.80
|
| Chuquisaca |
2,825
|
1,279
|
77.00
|
| Oruro |
3,950
|
6,484
|
80.43
|
| Beni |
889
|
550
|
77.70
|
| Cochabamba |
3,153
|
9,621
|
71.10
|
| Potosi |
3,022
|
6,608
|
80.20
|
| Santa Cruz |
86,327
|
150
|
58.60
|
| Pando |
2,105
|
500
|
80.90
|
| Tarija |
570
|
559
|
66.60
|
| TOTAL |
110,571
|
35,648
|
If industrial crops produced by large and medium farmers, particularly in Santa Cruz, are disregarded, results indicate that some 39,799 hectares of crops produced by mostly subsistence farmers have been lost.
Most of the people affected by the massive flooding that broke a 58-year record live in the western part of the country (La Paz, Cochabamba, Potosí and Oruro), mainly in the highland plains (altiplano). This area shows the highest poverty incidence in the country, and in some municipalities more than 30% of the total population was affected.
|
Department
|
Municipality
|
% Poverty
|
| La Paz | Pucarani |
96.6
|
| Chacarilla |
99.0
|
|
| Oruro | Corque |
95.4
|
| Salinas de Garci y Mendoza |
98.3
|
|
| Totora |
91.1
|
|
| Chipaya |
93.8
|
|
| Andamarca |
97.4
|
|
| Huachacalla |
95.1
|
|
| Sabaaya |
92.1
|
|
| Potosí | Belen de Urmiri |
97.8
|
Staple family food basket items have been hard hit by the disaster: potato (6,677 Has), maize (4,540 Has) and quinoa (2,167 Has). It is estimated that, in some regions, particularly in the highland plains, 20% of the potato crops has been lost. In other areas, where crops were cultivated on the riverbanks, crops were completely destroyed.
Since in the most affected region crops are cultivated only once a year (October to May), the next harvest is expected for May 2002. Until then, subsistence farmers who were significantly affected by the disasters will be in facing food insecurity.
WFP has focused its relief efforts in the areas of La Paz, Potosí, Oruro and Cochabamba. More than 23,000 families have been assisted with more than 1,000 MT of food, which was distributed immediately after the emergency for a period of approximately 30 days. However, further distributions have had to be called off due to shortage of food stocks.
In areas where the FFW development programs are active, affected families will be supported with regular resources and with the additional contribution of DFID Bolivia to Basic Activity 01. However, a large number of affected people not residing in this area remain without assistance.
This EMOP currently faces a shortage of 4,500 MT (wheat equivalent).