150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel: 41 22 791 6033 Fax: 41 22 791 6506 e-mail: [email protected] Appeal Coordinating Office

Bolivia Emergency Flood Relief LABO11 Appeal Target: US$ 34,275

Geneva, 9 February 2001

Dear Colleagues,

Heavy rains have been battering the western and northern regions of since the beginning of and have produced floods and landslides that have left at least 44,000 families affected, according to local official sources. The four most affected regions are: , Oruro, and Beni – with La Paz being the worst. In La Paz landslides have affected 22 districts of the while floods have inundated rural areas.

The flooding has caused destruction of homes and crops. Land and mudslides have damaged/blocked roads cutting off communication and transportation between provinces and departments. 500 houses have been destroyed and 22 people have lost their lives.

With more rains forecast a severe food shortage is predicted as the highland areas are already facing drought. This will further worsen Bolivia’s economic crisis.

ACT member, The Lutheran Church of Bolivia, is proposing to provide emergency assistance to 600 vulnerable, affected families in , La Paz Province. The proposal comprises the following components: ¨ Distribution of food, vital household goods, medical assistance and provisional shelter (tents) ¨ Support of children with educational materials in the form of school supplies (the school year is starting).

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. Bolivia – Flooding/Mudslides - Emergency Relief 2 LABO-11

Project Completion Date: 9 May 2001

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

US$ Total Appeal Target(s) 34,275 Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd. 0 Balance Requested from ACT Network 34,275

Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:

Account Number - 102539/0.01.061 (USD) Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together Banque Edouard Constant Cours de Rive 11 Case postale 3754 1211 Genève 3 SWITZERLAND

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address [email protected]) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind co-operation.

For further information please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or ++ 41 79 203 6055) Or ACT Appeals Officer, Elsa Moreno (phone +41 22 791 6420)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

Ms. Geneviève Jacques Thor-Arne Prois Rev. Rudolf Hinz Director ACT Coordinator Director WCC/Cluster on Relations LWF/World Service Bolivia – Flooding/Mudslides - Emergency Relief 3 LABO-11

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION

¨ The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia (ELCB)

II. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia (Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Boliviana) is a non-profit, religious organization, which has existed as a legal entity in Bolivia for 63 years serving Bolivian society in the most depressed and isolated regions of the country.

The ELCB has assumed responsibility on various occasions, confronting natural disasters in different regions of the country. The first experience was in the floods of () in 1993. The second experience was providing food and medical assistance to affected persons in the landslide of Cotahuma in the centre of the city of La Paz where hundreds of people lost their lives in 1994.

During the last 3 years ELCB has worked in one of the largest disasters in the department of Cochabamba, devastated by the earthquake in the zone of Aiquile and Totora in May of 1998. ELCB assisted by providing immediate relief and assisting rehabilitation projects such as the construction of a medical outpost and educational centres.

The ELCB is proposing to assist those affected by the floods of Viacha , especially as there are no other organisations currently working in that zone. Local authorities are providing some food assistance for those in very precarious circumstances but this aid will not continue for long.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

More than 22,861 people of the 20 provinces of the department of La Paz have been affected by the aftermath of the intense rains that have resulted in flooding, mudslides and landslides.

While in some regions the water caused destruction of homes and crops, in other places the damage was to roads through the effects of mudslides cutting off communication and transportation between provinces and departments.

A short while ago, because of rains in the province of Ingavi, the city of Viacha suffered from the flooding of three tributaries of the rivers Choquenayra, Pallina, and Cusillo. As the water level increased and brought with it mud and rocks, bridges became blocked and served as a dam containing the water. The overflow from the rivers flooded houses and damaged crops. The volume of water formed a lake approximately 50 km2.

The flooding affected 15 zones (about 1/5 of the city) of Viacha, namely: Santa Isabel, Santa Barbara, Jose Ballivian, 18 de Noviembre, Barrio Fabril, Villa , Bolivar, Bella Vista, Pocitos de Chuquiguillo, Letania. In the rural area all crops have been lost and the houses are under water.

The flooding occurred in the early morning of 23 January, forcing people to quickly evacuate their homes and leave most of their possessions behind as the water was rising rapidly. 210 homes and 285 families were severely affected by this flooding. Army units were sent in to help with the evacuation and attempts Bolivia – Flooding/Mudslides - Emergency Relief 4 LABO-11 were also made to clear any blockages in the river, but these attempts were unsuccessful due to lack of suitable machinery. More heavy rains fell that morning, further exacerbating the situation.

The second flood occurred on 30 January causing greater damage. Flood waters reached 1.8 metres and inundated 500 more houses leaving 2,000 families homeless. The mayor of Viacha declared the city a disaster area.

Repercussion in Human Lives Altogether 3,000 families were severely affected by the flooding, 800 of those being especially vulnerable after losing their homes and most of their belongings. Some 1,000 are living in the schools of Jose Ballivian, Evaristo Valle, Paniagua, and the Parish of San Augustin. More than 60 tents were set up provisionally made of plastic and remains of metal corrugated roofing rescued from the flood. For now the flood victims are being served hot food cooked in a common pot “olla comunitaria” by the municipality of that zone. However, the resources of the municipality are expiring and soon they will no longer be able to help. To date no other institution is present to offer assistance.

Description of damages 800 families were rendered homeless, their homes and possessions totally destroyed. These families are now living in difficult conditions and in need of food, shelter and potable water.

The flooding affected about 12 kilometres in the , with a further 9 rural communities that were inundated - around 1,500 hectares of fields planted with potatoes, onions, quinoa, and beans were destroyed/damaged and 300 homes (around 1,000 people) severely affected. The destruction of arable land means that 1,200 head of cattle and 30,000 sheep are left without food. Hence, it is foreseen that there will be a shortage of seed, food, and fodder. Furthermore, as many animals were drowned, there is a fear of a possible outbreak of disease due to the decomposing animal carcasses.

Locations for Proposed Response Four zones -- Santa Barbara, 18 de Noviembre, Barrio Fabril, and Brasil with some other rural communities (Mamani, Charomayto, Callisaya, Cañavari, Miramaya, Pan de Azucar, Chuquimuro, Irpa Grande and y Chullunkallani) at a later second stage, depending upon funding.

Emergency Statistics Countrywide there are some 114,305 people affected, with the department of La Paz having the largest number of affected - 22,861. The second most affected are the departments of Cochabamba, Beni, and Oruro.

It’s forecasted that the heavy rains will continue, enforcing the likelihood of further communities being flooded.

IV. GOALS & OBJECTIVES

The main goal is to assist the most vulnerable of those affected by the flooding and mud/land slides in four urban zones and some rural communities four zones of the province of Ingavi (Santa Barbara, 18 de Noviembre, Barrio Fabril, and Brasil). Bolivia – Flooding/Mudslides - Emergency Relief 5 LABO-11

Objectives

¨ Distribution of food, vital household goods, medical assistance and provisional shelter (tents) to 600 of the most vulnerable families. ¨ Assist 600 school children by providing educational materials in the form of school supplies.

V. TARGETTED BENEFICIARIES

The project benefits low income and very poor families from the urban area as well as from the rural province of Ingavi, 600 families who have lost their homes and crops in the region.

The criteria for selection will include families that have lost practically everything (home and belongings), poor families and agricultural farmers that lost their crops and cattle during the floods and the aftermath.

VI. PROPOSED ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION

Crisis Phase

¨ Distribution of food ¨ Provision of temporary shelter (tents) ¨ Provision of medicine and medical attention ¨ School supplies for children

Life saving provisions, food and/or nutritional assistance, medical assistance, provisional shelter (tents), and school supplies for children are most urgently needed. Once the crisis period has passed, rehabilitation assistance will be needed in the form of seeds, tools, materials for repair or construction of homes along with technical assistance.

With the co-operation of the municipality of Viacha, an Assistance Committee will be set up composed of representatives of both church and the affected.

It will also be necessary to appoint a person responsible for the implementation of the program (Co- ordinator) and provide temporary storage places in the zones of operation. Transportation and personnel will be contracted for delivery of the relief items.

VII. ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & REPORTING

The person directly responsible for implementation of the program will be the Co-ordinator with the help of the assistance committee, under the direct supervision of the Administration-Presidency of the ELCB.

Finance: Finance, both the disbursement and control of funds, will be under the direction of the Accounting Department of the IELB. Bolivia – Flooding/Mudslides - Emergency Relief 6 LABO-11

Reporting The co-ordinator will be responsible for the narrative reports and the Accounting Department will be responsible for the audit under the direct co-ordination of the Administration-Presidency.

VIII. IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE

The first phase will be distribution of emergency relief items which is estimated to be completed in 3 months.

IX. CO-ORDINATION

For more effective implementation the ELCB will co-ordinate with the concerned urban and rural authorities and the other ACT member of Bolivia.

X. BUDGET

Description Type of No of Unit Cost Budget Budget Unit Units Boliviano Boliviano US$ DIRECT ASSISTANCE Crisis Phase Food Sugar 12.5 Kgs 600 30 18,000 2,835 Rice 12.5 Kgs 600 30 18,000 2,835 Quinua 12.5 Kgs 600 34 20,400 3,213 Milk 3 lts. 600 26 15,600 2,457 Non food Blankets unit 600 50 30,000 4,724 Tents Unit 20 1,500 30,000 4,724 Educational kits kits 600 60 36,000 5,669 Medicines Lump sum 12,860 2,025 Total Direct Assistance 180,860 28,482

TRANSPORT, STORAGE, HANDLING & RELATED COSTS Transport Rent of trucks trip 3 4,287 12,861 2,025 Storage Warehouse montths 2 965 1,930 304 loading/offloading Lump sum 1,200 189 Materials Lump sum 798 126 Total Transport, warehousing , handling 16,789 2,644

PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS & OTHER SUPPORT COSTS Salaries & benefits Salaries & travel expenses Lump sum 20,000 3,150

TOTAL EXPENDITURE 217,649 34,275 Bolivia – Flooding/Mudslides - Emergency Relief 7 LABO-11