Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ515
2007-02-26 20:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
BOLIVIA FLOODING SITREP 1: FEBRUARY 26, 2007
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UNCLAS LA PAZ 000515
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA TIMOTHY CALLAGHAN
STATE PASS AID FOR DCHA/OFDA, MILENA POPP; LAC/SA, JEFF
BAKKEN;
DCHA/FFP, BARRY BURNETT
LIMA FOR DHS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AMED ASUP CASC EAGR ECON PREL BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA FLOODING SITREP 1: FEBRUARY 26, 2007
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000515
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA TIMOTHY CALLAGHAN
STATE PASS AID FOR DCHA/OFDA, MILENA POPP; LAC/SA, JEFF
BAKKEN;
DCHA/FFP, BARRY BURNETT
LIMA FOR DHS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AMED ASUP CASC EAGR ECON PREL BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA FLOODING SITREP 1: FEBRUARY 26, 2007
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The worst flooding in Bolivia in 25 years has
affected around 350,000 people, mainly in Bolivia's eastern
departments of the Beni and Santa Cruz, causing over USD 100
million of damage to the agricultural sector and outbreaks of
dengue fever and malaria. The governor of the Beni told the
Charge that 17,000 families, cattle, and crops in the Beni
were affected by flooding. He complained that the central
government was not coordinating with the regional government
to provide aid effectively. He said that evacuees are in
need of tents, children's clothing, medicine, and bedding as
the floods spread to new areas. End summary.
--------------
Floods Ravage the East
--------------
2. (U) Over 65 percent of the Bolivian territory is suffering
the effects of a particularly strong El Nino phenomenon,
including flooding, drought, and hail, according to press
reports. Following are damage estimates:
- Heavy flooding has affected an estimated 350,000 people,
mainly in Bolivia's eastern departments of the Beni and Santa
Cruz, leaving 35 dead and 6 missing, according to press
reports. Post has no reports of Amcits affected to date.
- Press reports indicate that this is the worst flooding that
has occurred in the past 25 years.
- Forty percent of the territory of the Beni is underwater.
- The government is now preparing contingency plans for the
complete evacuation of the city of Trinidad, capital of the
Beni with a population of 90,000 people. (Note: Only 28
Amcits are registered in Trinidad and 40 in the Beni. End
note.)
- The president of the Eastern Agriculture Chamber estimated
that the floods had caused over USD 100 million of damage to
the country's agricultural sector alone. Almost 500,000
acres of crops have been destroyed in Santa Cruz.
- The flooding has already produced almost 500 cases of
dengue fever and 1,500 cases of malaria.
--------------
The Beni Suffers USD 115 Million in Losses
--------------
3. (SBU) Prefect Ernesto Suarez, governor of Bolivia's
eastern Beni department, met with the Charge on February 26
and mentioned the following problems in the Beni:
- 17,000 families have been affected by flooding in the Beni.
Up to 500,000 head of cattle could die before the crisis is
over.
- The economic damage to the department could amount to more
than USD 115 million in losses of housing, clothes, cattle,
crops, and roads.
- International aid from Peru, Venezuela, Spain, and
Argentina, including helicopters, has arrived late due to the
central government's slowness to act. The central government
is not coordinating with the regional government to
distribute aid effectively. The central government refuses
to acknowledge the extent of damage in the Beni. Suarez
requested our assistance in obtaining satellite images to
show the GOB to encourage it to declare the Beni a natural
disaster zone.
--------------
Aid Efforts Underway, but Insufficient
--------------
4. (SBU) Suarez explained that the regional government had
turned 24 schools into temporary shelters and set up 12 camps
in rural areas. Because of the need for shelters, school had
been suspended in the capital, Trinidad. He said that over
13,000 people were being given food and medicine by municipal
governments and the prefecture. However, the water is
spreading to new areas, and the aid that has been received
thus far is insufficient, he said. He said they need tents,
children's clothing, medicine, and bedding. The Charge
explained that the Embassy had already given approximately
USD 500,000 in aid, would be sending 200 tents to the Beni
today, and would announce another donation shortly. (Note:
Post is also seeking permission from the Office of Personnel
Management to raise funds within the mission. End note.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) Prefect Suarez added that the flood waters are
spreading to other areas of the Beni and that they are
unlikely to recede from low-lying regions for two months.
Given that flood waters are continuing to rise, the full
extent of this disaster remains to be seen. Nonetheless,
this disaster will have dramatic consequences and a major
impact on Bolivia's agricultural sector. Post is analyzing
additional support from the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance and the United States Southern Command, as well as
seeking to publicize donations to improve the USG image. End
comment.
URS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA TIMOTHY CALLAGHAN
STATE PASS AID FOR DCHA/OFDA, MILENA POPP; LAC/SA, JEFF
BAKKEN;
DCHA/FFP, BARRY BURNETT
LIMA FOR DHS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AMED ASUP CASC EAGR ECON PREL BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA FLOODING SITREP 1: FEBRUARY 26, 2007
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The worst flooding in Bolivia in 25 years has
affected around 350,000 people, mainly in Bolivia's eastern
departments of the Beni and Santa Cruz, causing over USD 100
million of damage to the agricultural sector and outbreaks of
dengue fever and malaria. The governor of the Beni told the
Charge that 17,000 families, cattle, and crops in the Beni
were affected by flooding. He complained that the central
government was not coordinating with the regional government
to provide aid effectively. He said that evacuees are in
need of tents, children's clothing, medicine, and bedding as
the floods spread to new areas. End summary.
--------------
Floods Ravage the East
--------------
2. (U) Over 65 percent of the Bolivian territory is suffering
the effects of a particularly strong El Nino phenomenon,
including flooding, drought, and hail, according to press
reports. Following are damage estimates:
- Heavy flooding has affected an estimated 350,000 people,
mainly in Bolivia's eastern departments of the Beni and Santa
Cruz, leaving 35 dead and 6 missing, according to press
reports. Post has no reports of Amcits affected to date.
- Press reports indicate that this is the worst flooding that
has occurred in the past 25 years.
- Forty percent of the territory of the Beni is underwater.
- The government is now preparing contingency plans for the
complete evacuation of the city of Trinidad, capital of the
Beni with a population of 90,000 people. (Note: Only 28
Amcits are registered in Trinidad and 40 in the Beni. End
note.)
- The president of the Eastern Agriculture Chamber estimated
that the floods had caused over USD 100 million of damage to
the country's agricultural sector alone. Almost 500,000
acres of crops have been destroyed in Santa Cruz.
- The flooding has already produced almost 500 cases of
dengue fever and 1,500 cases of malaria.
--------------
The Beni Suffers USD 115 Million in Losses
--------------
3. (SBU) Prefect Ernesto Suarez, governor of Bolivia's
eastern Beni department, met with the Charge on February 26
and mentioned the following problems in the Beni:
- 17,000 families have been affected by flooding in the Beni.
Up to 500,000 head of cattle could die before the crisis is
over.
- The economic damage to the department could amount to more
than USD 115 million in losses of housing, clothes, cattle,
crops, and roads.
- International aid from Peru, Venezuela, Spain, and
Argentina, including helicopters, has arrived late due to the
central government's slowness to act. The central government
is not coordinating with the regional government to
distribute aid effectively. The central government refuses
to acknowledge the extent of damage in the Beni. Suarez
requested our assistance in obtaining satellite images to
show the GOB to encourage it to declare the Beni a natural
disaster zone.
--------------
Aid Efforts Underway, but Insufficient
--------------
4. (SBU) Suarez explained that the regional government had
turned 24 schools into temporary shelters and set up 12 camps
in rural areas. Because of the need for shelters, school had
been suspended in the capital, Trinidad. He said that over
13,000 people were being given food and medicine by municipal
governments and the prefecture. However, the water is
spreading to new areas, and the aid that has been received
thus far is insufficient, he said. He said they need tents,
children's clothing, medicine, and bedding. The Charge
explained that the Embassy had already given approximately
USD 500,000 in aid, would be sending 200 tents to the Beni
today, and would announce another donation shortly. (Note:
Post is also seeking permission from the Office of Personnel
Management to raise funds within the mission. End note.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) Prefect Suarez added that the flood waters are
spreading to other areas of the Beni and that they are
unlikely to recede from low-lying regions for two months.
Given that flood waters are continuing to rise, the full
extent of this disaster remains to be seen. Nonetheless,
this disaster will have dramatic consequences and a major
impact on Bolivia's agricultural sector. Post is analyzing
additional support from the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance and the United States Southern Command, as well as
seeking to publicize donations to improve the USG image. End
comment.
URS