Bolivian floods prompt emergency appeal

READING, England — The UBS has given the Bolivian Bible Society the sum of US$5,000 for the distribution of Scriptures to victims of the floods which have devastated parts of Bolivia during recent months.

News of the allocation of the funds is accompanied by an appeal to national Bible Societies from the UBS to make up the depletion of its Rapid Response Reserve, which is meeting the immediate costs.

Ruining livelihoods

Rain fell steadily on Cochabamba, a department in western central Bolivia, for the first three months of this year, putting nearly 3,000 hectares of crops under water and ruining the livelihoods and the homes of some 13,000 families. Damage to agriculture has been estimated at US$2.3 million.

A report by Bolivia’s Civil Defence Service (SENADECI) put the number of people affected by the end of March at 313,000, with Cochabamba and La Paz the worst-affected departments.

Short-term aid, in the form of food, tents and safe-water containers, has been supplied by relief agencies such as the World Food Program, SENADECI and other non-governmental organisations.

In January, it was reported from La Paz that about 4,000 people living in villages in the Andean foothills were trapped by torrential rains, prompting an emergency delivery of food and other supplies by army helicopters.

Further north, flooding in the Beni and Caca rivers caused water levels in the town of Guanay to reach the second floor of the offices of the global relief agency CARE. Members of staff reportedly saw furniture floating through the streets.

Rapid Response Reserve

The natural disaster in Bolivia is the fourth this year to draw a response from the UBS Rapid Response Reserve. Donations to top up the UBS Rapid Response Reserve may be sent directly to the United Bible Societies World Service Center, Rapid Response Reserve, 7th Floor, Reading Bridge House, Reading RG1 8PJ, England. (WR 360/12 - 06.01) e-146