BOLIVIA FLOODING SITREP 8: MARCH 16, 2007

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000733 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 8: MARCH 16, 2007 REF: LA PAZ 621 ¶1. (U) Flood waters in the departments of the Beni and Santa Cruz (reftel) have begun to recede. - GOB authorities estimate that flooding has affected almost 85,000 families (approximately 400,000 people) in eight out of nine departments, with 53 fatalities. - Health reports indicate 2,450 suspected and confirmed cases of dengue fever. GOB authorities will continue mosquito fumigation campaigns and undertake preventive measures (including the fumigation of vehicles) to limit the spread of the disease. Minister of Health Nila Heredia expressed fears March 10 of a massive dengue outbreak, noting that water in the region contains heavy concentrations of mosquito larvae. ¶2. (U) Bolivians have rallied to assist the victims, raising over USD 1 million in a 13-hour March 10 telethon. Businesses, organizations, and private citizens continue to donate food and supplies for affected families, despite delays in transporting and delivering donations. U.S. assistance to date totals approximately USD 1.57 million, including USD 365,000 in medicines provided by the NGO AmeriCares. ¶3. (U) President Morales declared March 15 that he would convene an international conference on climate change to ensure that "industrialized nations assumed responsibility for environmental disruptions" harming poor countries. This marked the second time Morales publicly blamed industrialized nations for climate change and linked the phenomenon to Bolivia's current disaster. GOLDBERG