BOLIVIA FLOODING SITREP 4: MARCH 1, 2007

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000573 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/AND LPETRONI SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA TIMOTHY CALLAGHAN STATE PASS TO 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 4: MARCH 1, 2007 REF: LA PAZ 553 ¶1. (U) Large parts of the departments of the Beni and Santa Cruz remain affected by massive floods. - GOB authorities estimate that flood waters have affected almost 35,000 families in the two departments, leaving 39 dead and six missing. - Dengue fever continues to spread, with 585 confirmed cases and 1,856 possible cases. The Bolivian health ministry's epidemiology unit estimates that this could represent only ten percent of actual cases. - Total damage estimates have exceeded USD 250 million. ¶2. (U) On February 28, President Morales issued a supreme decree declaring a national disaster; the decree prioritized certain municipalities and generated criticism from department prefects and opposition leaders, who declared the decree "discriminatory" and argued that it should have been national in its extent. The decree authorizes the use of up to one percent of the national budget for disaster assistance. ¶3. (U) In a related development, President Morales refused to immediately consider a congressional proposal to allow departmental and municipal authorities unlimited access to direct hydrocarbons tax funds to address the disaster. Presidential spokesman Alex Contreras declared February 28 that the GOB would not allow any institution "the unrestricted and unlimited use of resources," even in a national emergency. ¶4. (U) The mission's aid efforts continue. Post expects an Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) flight to arrive in Trinidad, the capital of the Beni, on March 2, with an estimated 4,000 hygiene kits, 1,000 water jugs, and material for 400 to 500 tents; the flight and cargo are worth approximately USD 180,000. Post is also working to finalize arrangements for a military aircraft to arrive March 5, with an estimated 2,300 hygiene kits, 4,800 water jugs, and material for 160 to 200 tents; the cargo is worth approximately USD 71,000. The Ambassador plans to meet the aircraft and personally assess the region's flood damage. The two flights, together with past assistance, an estimated USD 10,000 to combat the dengue outbreak, and an additional USD 150,000 from OFDA for supplies and transportation, would bring total U.S. flood donations to an estimated USD 1.1 million. GOLDBERG