Silver Spring, Maryland—In response to serious flooding in the eastern and northern regions of Bolivia, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is partnering with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide temporary shelter, hygiene kits, household supplies, and access to clean water for an estimated 1,000 families within the departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pando. During the initial six-month project, ADRA Bolivia will provide shelter for an estimated 5,000 individuals, build clean water storage tanks, and provide basic emergency supplies, such as hygiene kits, kitchen supplies, mattresses, cushions, and blankets. Since November 2007, the constant and intense rainfall caused by La Niña, a meteorological phenomenon, has caused massive flooding in all nine of Bolivia's provinces, with the departments of Cochabamba, Beni, Santa Cruz, Potosí, La Paz, and Chuquisaca receiving the worst of the damage. Due to the heavy rainfall, several rivers have overflowed their banks, destroying more than 44,000 hectares of crops, and washing away more than 100 homes. According to official reports, nearly 79,000 people have been affected in the Latin American country, with more than 60 deaths attributed to the flooding. The intervention is funded by USAID, in partnership with ADRA International, the ADRA South America office, located in Brasilia, Brazil, and the Bolivia Union office of Seventh-day Adventists. ADRA Bolivia is coordinating the project with USAID, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), International Cooperation Agencies, Bolivia Civil Defense, as well as local government offices. For more than 15 years, ADRA Bolivia has been active in the departments of Santa Cruz, Pando, Beni, Chuquisaca, La Paz, Cochabamba, and Potosi. ADRA Bolivia has also trained volunteers to provide immediate support in Chima, Millocato, Potosí, Viacha, Beni, Santa Cruz, and others. ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity. Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

-END-

Author: Nadia McGill Media Contact: Kara Watkins ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6357 Mobile: 301.526.2625 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org