BOLIVIA FLOODING SITREP 6: MARCH 5, 2007

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000604 SIPDIS 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 6: MARCH 5, 2007 REF: A. LA PAZ 593 ¶B. 2006 LA PAZ 3244 ¶1. (U) Large parts of the departments of the Beni and Santa Cruz remain affected by massive floods (ref A). Although flood waters in Trinidad, capital of the Beni, have begun to recede, rivers are rising in other areas of the department and threaten to expand the flooding to those new areas. - GOB authorities raised total estimates of affected families from 73,482 to 75,897 in eight out of nine departments. - Health reports indicate increasing cases of dengue fever and tetanus, among other illnesses. The health minister announced on March 5 that vaccination campaigns against tetanus would begin this week and fumigation against mosquitoes would continue. - The Beni regional government estimates that the flood waters will not recede for two months and that the regional government will have to attend to 80,000 flood victims during that time with 1,000 tons of food per month. ¶2. (U) The GOB promulgated a law on March 2 to allow prefectures and municipal governments declared disaster zones to spend their budgetary resources, including their shares of the direct hydrocarbons tax, without restriction. 108 of Bolivia's 329 municipalities have been declared disaster zones. The vice minister of lands announced that the verification of whether land is fulfilling an economic or social function, as required by the land law passed in November 2006 (ref B),would be put on hold during the emergency. ¶3. (U) Ambassador Goldberg and USAID Director Mike Yates traveled to Trinidad, Beni on March 5 to visit flood victims and donate two additional plane loads of emergency supplies, including hygiene kits and tents. U.S. assistance to date totals approximately USD 1.5 million. The Office of Personnel Management has authorized fundraising within the mission, which will continue through March 16, with proceeds going to the International Federation of Red Cross. GOLDBERG