Bolivia is facing a serious climate crisis after weeks of intense rains, which have already left 55 people dead, eight missing, and more than 500,000 families affected.
According to the Deputy Minister of Civil Defense, Juan Carlos Calvimontes, official figures indicate that 419,628 families are affected and 90,529 have been declared victims. The damages extend to 252 municipalities, of which 127 are in a state of disaster and 25 in an emergency.
The magnitude of the rains has caused the destruction of homes, roads, and entire communities that remain isolated. The most affected departments are Beni, Oruro, and Chuquisaca, which have been declared in a state of disaster, while La Paz and Santa Cruz are under emergency.
Authorities have warned that the rains will continue during April, according to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi), increasing the possibility of new river overflows.
### Government Response to Intense Rains: Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction
In response to this critical situation, the Bolivian Government has allocated 122 million Bolivians (more than 17 million dollars) to assist the affected communities and advance with the reconstruction of damaged infrastructures.
Additionally, medical brigades have been deployed in the most impacted areas: in Beni, 2,295 attentions were provided, in La Paz 997, and in Santa Cruz 349. Common health issues include colds, diarrhea, laryngitis, mycosis, and headaches, linked to the harsh conditions created by the storm.
Since March 26, Bolivia declared a national emergency, a measure that facilitates access to international support and allows for more agile allocation of resources to critical regions.
In this context, the Joint Command of the Armed Forces has been activated, intervening in 70 climatic emergencies since November, deploying 4,078 agents from the Army, Navy, and Air Force for rescue operations, food delivery, and logistical support.
So far, 3 million Bolivians (approximately 431,000 dollars) have been delivered in humanitarian aid. An additional 31 million (4.4 million dollars) have been committed for the rental of heavy machinery aimed at clearing routes and assisting the most affected areas.
Moreover, a hospital ship is being refurbished with the capacity to transport 40 tons of supplies by river to the communities in Beni, where floods have made land and air routes inaccessible.
### Perspectives and Challenges
The impact of the disaster is profound and requires a sustained response in terms of humanitarian aid and long-term reconstruction.
The floods have revealed the vulnerability of infrastructures in many areas of the country, emphasizing the need for preventive measures to minimize the effects of future climate events.
With the rains still threatening Bolivia, the road to recovery will be a challenge that will require the collaboration of different sectors and international support to protect the affected communities and restore normalcy in the hardest-hit regions.
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