Location: La Paz

WFP will increase the number of flood-stricken families being assisted with food aid, adding 4,000 families now desperate after floods washed away their crops and household belongings.

The recent inclusions are from the Department of Beni where, according to preliminary reports, some 14,000 families have been affected, with 4,000 needing urgent food assistance.

WFP has already distributed more than 500 metric tonnes of food aid to nearly 13,000 families in the Departments of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Potosí, Chuquisaca and Tarija.

State of emergency

The Government of Bolivia declared a state of emergency after a series of heavy rains, floods and landslides struck most of the country for several weeks.

Fresh reports indicate that the water level of the Mamore River, near the city of Trinidad (the capital city of department of Beni) has increased, forcing authorities to evacuate 235 families.

“The World Food Programme is working very quickly to assist all of these disaster victims,” said Vitoria Ginja, WFP Bolivia Country Director. “With the help of the Government and our partners, we will do our best to deliver relief food to them as rapidly as possible.”

WFP is currently moving 716 tonnes of food from its warehouses in the eastern part of the country to re-supply warehouses in the city of Santa Cruz. Food distributions for affected communities in the department of Beni will quickly follow.

Contact us

Vitória Ginja
WFP/Bolivia
Tel. +591 2414646
vitoria.ginja@wfp.org

Ximena Loza
WFP/Bolivia
Tel. +591 22412207
ximena.loza@wfp.org

Alejandro Chicheri
WFP/Latin America
and the Caribbean
Tel. +507-317-3900
Cel. +507-6675-0617
alejandro.chicheri@wfp.org

Trevor Rowe
WFP/Latin America
and the Caribbean
Tel. +507 317 3955
Cel. +507 6674260
trevor.rowe@wfp.org

Brenda Barton
Deputy Director
Communications
WFP/Rome
Tel. +39-06-65132602
Cell. +39-3472582217
(ISDN line available)
brenda.barton@wfp.org

Gregory Barrow

WFP/London
Tel. +44-20-72409001
Cell. +44-7968-008474
gregory.barrow@wfp.org

Christiane Berthiaume
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41-22-9178564
Cell. +41-792857304
christiane.berthiaume

@wfp.org

Cécile Sportis
WFP/Paris
Tel. +33-1-70385330
Cell. +33-6161-68266
cecile.sportis@wfp.org

Jennifer Parmelee
WFP/Washington
Tel. +1-202-6530010
Ext. 1149
Mob. +1-202-4223383
jennifer.parmelee
@wfp.org

Bettina Luescher
WFP/New York
Tel. +1-212-9635196
Cell. +1-646-8241112
luescher@un.org

World Food Programme news

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