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Bolivia

Bolivia: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 3

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0012
OCHA Situation Report No.3
Bolivia - Floods

This situation report is based on information provided to OCHA by the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Bolivia and donors.

Situation

1. Serious floods triggered by heavy rains continue affecting several departments across the country as referred to in OCHA situation report No.1 and 2 issued on 30 January and 1 February 2006 respectively. January rainfall over most of northern Bolivia regions has by far exceeded historical average. In the highlands, for example, rains have fallen 169% above the average. As a result, the highlands and most of the rivers of the Amazon basin have overflowed causing serious damage to houses, crops, roads and other basic infrastructure.

2. According to the information provided on 3 February 2006 by the United Nations need assessment working groups, 12000 families continued to be affected by the floods and more than 2400 houses had been damaged or destroyed. Over the weekend in the municipality of San Julián in the Santa Cruz Department, the number of families evacuated to shelters has increased from 1.476 to 2.009.

Request for International assistance - National Response

3. On 27 January 2006, the Government has issued a Supreme Decree No. 28610 declaring a national emergency and authorizing the Bolivian authorities to appeal for international assistance.

4. On 3 February 2006, the results of the United Nations need assessment working groups were presented in a meeting with the participation of government authorities, international cooperation agencies and NGOs.

International Response

5. The United Nations Disaster Management Team is organizing disaster response coordination meetings with national authorities, donors, Red Cross and NGOs on a regular basis.

6. A UN System team is now highly mobilized in Santa Cruz Department to assist the Departmental authorities with the emergency response. Meanwhile, La Paz city is facing damage to its infrastructure. Telecom sin Fronteras is assisting in the San Julian area.

7. Following the request of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has allocated a cash emergency grant of USD 30,000 to purchase the most urgent relief items.

8. Responding to the call for international aid, 140 Cuban doctors and health specialists arrived to the municipality of Santa Cruz on 3 February 2006 to assist victims in a need of health assistance.

9. On 31 January 2006, the Government of Japan decided to provide Bolivia with emergency assistance in kind (tents, blankets, sleeping mats, portable water tanks) worth approximately USD 86,125.

10. WFP, UNICEF, PAHO-WHO, UNFPA, UNDP and FAO are coordinating the delivery of the humanitarian assistance. WFP continues with food provision in affected areas and UNICEF with specialized nutritional food for children under 2 years old. An interagency operational center for the emergency is now up and running at the UNICEF office.

11. The following coordination clusters are functioning:

- Food/Nutrition: WFP, USAID, Médicos del Mundo, Save the Children, DRIPAD, Red Cross, FHI, CARE Bolivia

- Health: PAHO/WHO, Ministry of Health, UNFPA, Médicos del Mundo, Médicos sin Fronteras, World Vision, OXFAM

- Water and sanitation and temporary shelters: UNICEF, CARE Bolivia, Save the Children, USAID, CRS, VIDECICODI, OIM

- Rehabilitation of Infrastructure: UNDP, Vice-ministry of Decentralization, OXFAM

- Fund administration: UNDP
Coordination: UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETE).

Need for Assistance

12. A list of needed supplies includes: shovels, picks, wheelbarrows, food, medicines, water, disinfection products, tents, mosquito nets, blankets, mattresses, kitchen kits, hygienic kits, water containers, water and mud pumps.

13. This situation report, together with the information on contributions and other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Map: Bolivia: Floods - Situation map

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Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
Mr. Dusan Zupka
E-mail: zupka@un.org
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1645

Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. + 41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-367 5126
Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 1143

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