Emergency appeal MDRBO006 Bolivia: floods and GLIDE n° FL-2011-000020-BOL 08 March 2011 landslides This Emergency Appeal seeks 518,725 Swiss francs in cash, kind, or services to support the Bolivian Red Cross to assist 2,500 beneficiaries for 6 months, and will be completed by the end of August 2011. A Final report will be made available by 1 December 2011 (three months after the end of the operation). On 3 March, 78,074 Swiss francs were allocated from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support this operation. Un-earmarked funds to replenish DREF are encouraged. Around 14,000 families are affected in Bolivia, particularly in the Department of La Paz where a hillside collapsed in a densely populated area, destroying hundreds of homes. Due to the phenomenon of Source: BRC La Niña, the weather pattern in Bolivia has been disrupted, with drought in late 2010 and early 2011, and many days of intense and constant rains throughout February. These weeks of heavy rain caused floods and mudslides in 9 departments of the country affecting some 14,000 families and causing 56 deaths. Based on the situation, the government of Bolivia declared a state of emergency on 23 February. This Emergency Appeal responds to a request from the Bolivian Red Cross (BRC) and focuses on providing support to make an appropriate and timely response in delivering assistance and relief to 2,500 families (12,500 people) with food and non-food relief items, and 500 families (2,500 people) with emergency health care, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion and early recovery. <click here to view the attached Emergency Appeal Budget; here to link to a map of the affected area; or here to view contact details> 2 The situation The weather phenomenon of La Niña has been felt across Central and South America since last year. In the case of Bolivia, La Niña disrupted normal rain patterns with drought in late 2010 and early 2011, and many days of intense and constant rains throughout February. These weeks of heavy rain caused floods and mudslides in 9 departments of the country, affecting thousands of families and causing 56 deaths. The Bolivian government declared a state of emergency on 23 February 2011. The areas on red alert are the valley region in Cochabamba; the Chapare region in Beni, particularly along the banks of the Beni River; the municipalities of Rurrenabaque, Reyes and San Borja in La Paz. Ninety per cent of the affected population reside in these areas. Approximately 600 of the affected families are from indigenous communities in Beni and Cochabamba. On 27 February the Vice-ministry of Civil Defense (Vice-ministerio de Defensa Civil-VIDECI) reported 10,992 affected families as the table below shows. However, recent statements by VIDECI state that some 14,000 families are affected, although the exact number per department is still unclear. Families affected by La Niña phenomenon Department Total Beni 1,294 Chuquisaca 1,221 Cochabamba 4,430 La Paz 2,792 Oruro 500 Pando - Potosí 440 Santa Cruz 65 Tarija 250 Total 10,992 The Vice-ministry of Rural Development states that an estimated 3,000 hectares of food crops have been lost. Furthermore, access to the affected areas is difficult, as several roads and bridges have been affected. A report from the Bolivian Road Administration (Administración Boliviana de Carreteras - ABC) states that 26 highways are closed to traffic due to landslides, most prominent being the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz highway, one of the most important for the country’s export-import commerce. The meteorological national services forecast that the effects of La Niña will continue until April 2011. Experts expect further flooding in the lowlands of the Beni Department due to rainfall in the highlands near La Paz. La Paz The most prominent event occurred on 25 February when a hillside started to collapse onto Kupini II, a poor neighbourhood of the capital city, La Paz. Emergency services evacuated the area before the landslide hit, and there were not major casualties. The exact affectation is difficult to determine as the hillside is still unstable and landslides are still occurring. Thus far, around 6 million cubic metres has slid, affecting at least 800 houses and road access to 8 neighbourhoods: Valle de Flores, Kupini II, Pampahasi Bajo, Pampahasi Central, Santa Rosa de Callapa, Callapa, 23 de Marzo Cervecería and Metropolitana. The possibility of new landslides is still high as weather forecasts predict continuing rainfall in the coming days. Furthermore, the Water and Sanitation Public Social Company (Empresa Pública Social de Agua y Saneamiento- EPSAS) interrupted services in the southern section of La Paz to avoid a possible collapse of a high pressure pipe that could cause more damages. Around 80,000 people are affected by the lack of water. The following table shows the collective centres and camps (formed by tents provided by the Vice-ministry of Civil Defence (VIDECI) and the municipality of Quillacollo) sheltering the evacuated families after the collapse of the hillside: 3 Location Source of Nº of Nº of Nº Nº evacuation families people latrines/toilets Latrines/toilets Men women Field Escobar Pampahasi 9 44 3 3 Uría Central, Pampahasi Bajo Escobar Urìa 15 65 pre-school U.E. 24 de Valle de las 160 800 5 5 Junio Flores Field - Market 10 de Enero 18 78 U.E. Artemio Pampahasi 40 200 1 1 Camargo Central, (field Venus) Pampahasi Bajo U.E. Delia Valle de las 75 300 4 4 Gambarte Flores, Prolongación Kupini y Kupini II Bajo Valle de las 13 64 Pampahasi Flores, health centre Prolongación Kupini y Kupini II Villa Salome 220 1,500 San Juan 32 160 Gym San Juan 18 78 Sede Social U.E. Sergio Prolongación 120 600 3 3 Vilegas Kupini, Kupini II Kupini 5 40 Church Bajo San Kupini II 14 85 2 2 Isidro field Market Valle de las 39 193 6 6 Zenobio Flores, Lopez Kupini II, Pampahasi, Central, Callapa Ex U.E. Rose Callapa 9 78 4 4 Mery Barrientos 4 Psychiatric Callapa 206 1,030 2 2 hospital San Juan de Dios Collective Callapa 60 300 centre Tierra de Dios Irpavi Callapa 24 272 Chancadora U.E. FF.AA. Callapa 22 150 Military school TOTAL 1,099 6,037 In addition to the collapse of the hillside, the department of La Paz was also affected on 8 and 9 February when the La Paz River overflowed, affecting the communities of Avircato, El Palomar, Huayhuasi and Huaricana. Around 135 hectares of crops were destroyed, as well as the protective walls and a bridge. Some 509 families were affected. Further downstream, the La Paz River turns in to the Beni River which also overflowed and affected around 900 families more. Cochabamba The tropical region of Cochabamba, Chapare has been affected since 11 February by the overflowing of several rivers: Espíritu Santo, 24, Chimore, Chapare, Ivirgarzama, Sacta and Ichilo. Around 10,900 hectares between the municipalities of Villa Tunari, Shinahota, Chimore, Puerto Villarroel and Entreríos are flooded. There are severe losses of crops and at least 2,180 families were affected. The municipalities in the lower part of the valley also suffered floods and flash floods, particularly due to the overflowing of the Rocha River in an Heavy rain in February has caused serious damages in infrastructures, roads and agricultural fields. Source: BRC area with a poor drainage system. Furthermore, the road network is severely affected in this Department, and there areas that can only be reached by river, with higher cost in time and funds. In total, the department of Cochabamba has at least 4,430 affected families. Beni Recent assessments estimate that around 2,650 families are affected in the municipalities surrounding the Beni River, whose water comes from the highlands near La Paz, although the numbers need to be confirmed. Between 13 and 15 February, the communities of Nuevo Reyes, Zoraida, San Marcos, Guagua I, Puerto Salinas and Rio Viejo petitioned for support to the authorities of Reyes Municipality due to the overflow of the Beni River. A day later, on 16 February, nomadic indigenous groups also petitioned for support as they were unable to find dry land to settle. Local authorities estimate that some 1,500 families were affected. A collective centre was installed in Coliseo Cerrado to shelter 60 families. In addition, Rurrenabaque Municipality declared a red alert on 21 February as the river water was rising. By 23 February, local authorities estimated that some 1,000 families were in need of assistance, particularly in the rural areas. Four collective centres have been installed in Rurrenabaque which are assisting some 52 families. 5 Coordination and partnerships Recently there has been an increase in coordination between national and international organizations. On 28 February there was a meeting in the Major’s Office of La Paz and sectors of the National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) have started to meet. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) organized a meeting in the Governor’s Office on 28 February, and the World Food Programme also organized a meeting with the government and other organizations on 1 March. The National Disaster Relief Unit (Unidad Nacional de Socorro y Desastres) of the BRC has been present on all these meetings, as well as following the situation with the National Civil Defence. Similarly, the branches of the National Society are participating in the departmental EOCs and sending reports to headquarters. In addition, the governmental authorities are working alongside OXFAM and Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) to install 38 pre-fabricated transitional homes for the affected population.