Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
La Paz (Fides Service) - At least 25,000 families have been affected by serious floods in nine different regions of Bolivia. The worst hit areas are the eastern regions of Potosí and La Paz, where respectively 6,018 and 5,817 families are homeless and the north eastern region of Beni where 4,118 families have lost their homes.
The rainfall was 40% higher than the average for this time of the year and the situation is serious. Caritas Bolovia has appealed to the 162 national Caritas members of the Caritas Internationalis federation of Catholic aid and development agencies present in 200 different countries and territories for help to deal with this flood emergency. Farming has been seriously damaged, in particular the production of basic foods such as Soya, maize and potatoes. Many remote areas are still isolated.
Besides governments of Argentina, Cuba, Chile, United States, Peru, Spain, Japan and Venezuela, the European Union has also sent a delegation to distribute food, clothing, water and basic medicines and to organise temporary shelter in schools and hospitals. (AP) (8/3/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:19; Parole:205)
