Flooding and mudslides in Bolivia

31 March 2011

Weeks of heavy rain have caused flooding and mudslides in large areas of Bolivia...

Weeks of heavy rain in February and March in Bolivia have caused major flooding and landslides. The worst affected ‘departamentos’ (counties/states) include Beni, Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Oruro, Potosi and La Paz. The government of Bolivia declared a national state of emergency on 23rd February 2011 and estimates that over 24,000 families have been made homeless and 56 people have died.

Landslides have occurred in different parts of the country but the largest one occurred in the city of La Paz on February 26th when more than 4,000 people, including a community of older people, lost their homes and most of their belongings. Eight areas in the city have been affected by mudslides.

The following areas are currently on red alert:

Cochabamba’s valley region
the Chapare in Beni, particularly areas adjacent to the Beni river
the municipalities of Rurrenabaque, Reyes and San Borja in La Paz

It is estimated that 90% of the affected population reside in these areas. Around 600 of the affected families are from indigenous communities in Beni and Cochabamba.

Access to the affected areas is proving difficult as roads and bridges have been washed away. The floods have washed away fields of banana, yucca, rice and corn. Cattle have also been lost. Families require support to recover their crops and livelihoods.

The floods and mudslides follow a period of intense drought in late 2010 and early 2011. The unusual weather patterns have been attributed to the La Niña weather phenomenon.

Advice for those travelling to or working in the areas affected:

There is a risk of leptospirosis in these flood-affected areas.
After floods and heavy rains the incidence of malaria, dengue fever and other insect-borne diseases can sometimes increase. Please seek further advice if you plan to travel in the coming weeks.
We recommend that you take a diarrhoea treatment kit with you if live in or are involved in the aid effort in the flood-affected areas.

Vaccine recommendations:

Diphtheria & Tetanus
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Rabies
Typhoid
Yellow fever

Malaria advice:
There is a high risk of malaria in the following states: Santa Cruz and northern Beni and Pando especially Cobija, Guayaramerín and Riberalta where Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone) OR Doxycycline OR Mefloquine (Lariam) are recommended for malaria prevention.

There is a variable risk in all areas below 2500 metres where either Chloroquine OR Proguanil can be used. However, select the malaria prevention for highest risk area if moving between zones.

For further information click on the following links:

Diarrhoea and dysentery
Flooding related health dangers
Insect protection
Leptospirosis
Bolivia country profile - on InterHealth's Travel Health Advice Centre (THAC)

Sources: Reuters AlertNet, BBC News online, ReliefWeb, United Nations Country Team (Bolivia)