Appeal Target: US$ 147,489

Total Requested: US$ 122,504

On 24 January 2008, the Bolivian Government declared a state of National Emergency as a consequence to the constant and heavy rains produced by the “La Niña” phenomenon and resulting flooding in the nine departments of Bolivia. The bad weather conditions began in December 2007, and reached a peak in January 2008. On 12 February, the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, declared a State of National Disaster, asking for international humanitarian assistance.

Low-lying areas have been severely affected by flooding and epidemics. In the Andean highlands, constant rainfall, along with freezes, hail and snowfall have caused flash floods, swept away homes and bridges, destroyed roadways and caused landslides. According to the Vice minister for Civil Defense, this phenomenon has affected over 25,000 families across Bolivia. 5,339.76 hectares of agricultural lands have been lost along with 311 homes. 34 people have died.

The municipality of Tacobamba, in the Cornelio Savedra province of the Potosí department, is one example among many severely affected municipalities. With a poverty rate of 96.15 %, it is also one of the most vulnerable area of the country. With 93% of crop loss, men are migrating to the cities of Potosí, Sucre and Cochabamba in search for work, leaving women and children behind. Families will have no food in the coming months and will lack seeds for the next planting season to begin in August. A similar situation is to be found within many indigenous communities of the Departments of La Paz, Beni and Potosi, where poverty rates are amongst the highest of the country and families rely mostly on subsistence farming.

Through the ACT Rapid Response Fund (RRF) request 9/2008, ACT members Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Evangelical Methodist Church of Bolivia (IEMB) have responded to the crisis situation with LWR delivering food to 440 hardest hit Quechua families in the municipality of Tacobamba, and IEMB supporting 770 families in 13 communities of the departments of Potosí and Beni with food and medicine.

Through the ACT appeal LABO61 issued on 2^nd April 2008, LWR is planning to deliver agriculture rehabilitation support to 440 families in 6 sub central districts of the municipality of Tacobamba. The intervention includes rehabilitation of soil, distribution of local crops seeds and reforestation. A disaster risk reduction strategy will be applied through training on agriculture and land management for the families, local authorities, school cluster directors and experts of the municipality.

Through the present revision of the appeal, IEMB through its Rural Development Department (DDR) is planning to assist 2,068 indigenous families with seeds delivery and technical agricultural trainings in the departments of La Paz, Beni and Potosí. The locations were selected for their remoteness, the endemic povery of the population and the little or no support they received from other agencies. The response promotes the use of local knowledge on natural disaster mitigation which will gathered through interviews with the elderly, systematized and disseminated amongst the communities.

Project Completion Date: 18 February 2009

Reporting schedule:

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

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office