Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
La Paz (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church in Bolivia has invited citizens “to unite in the face of the natural adversity” which in January and February resulted in the deaths of more than 60 people and left about 60,000 without homes, destroying thousands of hectares of farming and grazing land. The Government has declared a state of emergency and invited the relevant Ministers to coordinate emergency services and assistance for the victims together with local and regional governments.
“We can resolve the problems together, with help and illumination from the Lord,”Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval, Archbishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Primate of Bolivia said in his homily at Sunday Mass. The Cardinal urged the faithful to reflect on the damage that nature causes in some of its most violent manifestations.
According to one of Civil Protection's first reports, about 65 people were killed by the overflowing rivers, the floods and the landslides after twelve hours of continuous heavy rain. The zones of Villa Canillitas, Providencia, Santo Domingo and Manaco, north of La Paz, have almost completely been covered by mud for the past seven days, due to the overflowing Rocha and Huayculi Rivers. The most serious problem is the water that enters houses and the lack of pumps to remove it. Further, mosquitoes are beginning to appear in the area, creating evidently more discomfort for everyone.
In a note sent to Fides by Radio Onda Azul, Williams Rioja, director of the Department of Early Warning and Risk Management for the Government, said that the greatest number of affected families is located in Palos Blancos, where about 1,500 families have lost everything, especially cultivated land. In Guanay it is estimated that 500 families are affected, although the water level has dropped in recent days. In addition, the communities in Ixiamas, San Buenaventura and Alto Beni are still waiting for help. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 01/03/2011)
