El Niño forecasters' predictions of severe
floods in the north of Peru and droughts in the south and into Ecuador
are already starting to prove correct. In Ecuador flooding attributed
to El Niño has already taken hold in the coastal south of the country.
So far floods are only just threatening the north of Peru and are
expected in Bolivia later.
Substantial areas of coastal Ecuador
are under water and are expected to stay so for 4 months, making it very
difficult to deal with water supply and sanitation. Rains have come 2 months
earlier and been heavier than usual. Agricultural land has been flooded
and damaged and communities isolated. The main health problems are malaria
and dengue fever (both endemic), skin infections, diarrhoea and parasites.
Medical facilities are few and poorly supplied. People drink mainly the
waters of muddy rivers although they boil it if they can and latrines are
few. There are few organisations working there.
Oxfam is working with a local partner to provide a stock of materials for the collection of rainwater and for its chlorination, blankets, mosquito nets, food, medical supplies, and empty bags for making sandbag embankments. The partner is also to do hygiene education. Oxfam is having difficulty raising money for all these activities.
In Peru floods caused by El Niño started late in 1997. Oxfam and its local counterpart have designed a programme for two areas in the north of the country, Morropon and Chimbote, that includes training, drinking water supply, drainage, temporary shelter and seeds for short cycle crops. Oxfam has not yet secured funds for this programme.
The proposed action in Bolivia will follow on from last year's flood response programmes in areas of Bolivia and Brazil in the Amazon basin where rivers are already rising. Recommendations have been made for drilling for handpumps, water treatment, malaria treatment, etc, and food production which is very important after the loss of crops associated with floods. Other areas of the country will be affected by drought, and Oxfam is planning well-digging and other water systems work.