The umbrella organisation of all worldwide SOS Children's Villages
(SOS-Kinderdörfer - SOS Villages d'Enfants - Aldeas Infantiles SOS)
PRESS RELEASE:
Flood-hit Bolivian families are struggling to survive
(5 March 2007) - Approximately 70,000 families have been affected by the worst floods
to hit Bolivia in 25 years, and many have had to abandon their homes and
possessions. Last week, Bolivian President Evo Morales declared a national state of
disaster in the country. SOS Children's Villages is providing flood-hit families from the
affected rural regions with emergency aid in the form of aid parcels and day-care
centres for children. Alfonso Lupo, the national director of SOS Children's Villages in
Bolivia, talks about the current situation of flood-hit families and children in the Santa
Cruz and Beni districts.
Where are the flood-hit families and children who had to flee their homes living and in
what kind of conditions?
Alfonso Lupo: Many families and children from the flooded areas have relocated to the
motorways as well as a kind of dike in the city centre of Santa Cruz. They live, cook and
spend their time there in very crowded conditions. All schools have been transformed into
emergency shelters, so there are no classes for the children. This concentration of people
facilitates emergency aid work, but also leads to other problems and precarious conditions.
What are hygiene conditions like and what about health issues?
Alfonso Lupo: The situation is critical and everyone is very worried. This land is a tropical
climate with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, which is now surrounded by a lot
of water due to the floods. The water is already contaminated by human waste due to the
large concentration of people. There is a danger of major water- and vector-borne diseases
breaking out and spreading, primarily gastrointestinal diseases, but also dengue and mayaro,
a parasitical virus transmitted by mosquitoes and characterized by high fever and an aching
body.
How is family life being affected?
Alfonso Lupo: Life has completely changed for families and children, who are now solely
focused on survival. They dream of returning to their homes and former activities. But this will
probably not be possible. If they don't have the means to reconstruct their homes and
livelihoods, they may have to relocate... but where to and with what means? What is going to
happen when they realise they have nothing? There is a big risk of family disintegration, so
the reconstruction of livelihoods has to be one of the main goals. But so far, families are still
united and SOS Children's Villages is helping to ensure this remains the case, which is why
we have named our emergency support "families help families". If families are intact then the
children will have a better chance to develop.
How much emergency aid is still required?
Alfonso Lupo: A lot of emergency relief is still needed to save the affected people; this is
our main concern right now. The situation is a lot more serious than we expected and it is
getting worse with every week that passes. There has been a lot of emergency relief work so
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far (from authorities and other NGOs). The logistics have been difficult and demanding and it
is becoming harder to reach the victims due to the flooding.
What longer-term consequences are expected?
Alfonso Lupo: After the floods, other emergencies will emerge which are equally serious
and complicated. When the floods subside, only then will people know how much they have
actually lost. We want to underline that this disaster is likely to worsen, and that people will
need help in recovering their material resources and in rebuilding their livelihoods. These
people were already poor and now the floods have taken the little they had. What will remain
and what will these people do later on? The impact of this disaster is going to be huge in
regions which were inhabited by cattle breeders. And not just for the big cattle breeders but
also for poorer breeders, who earned their living with five to ten cows and through other
forms of agriculture. The possibility of relocating people to other areas of the country is
something that is still being evaluated by authorities.
SOS Children's Villages is active in 132 countries and territories. 444 SOS Children's Villages and 354
SOS Youth Facilities provide more than 60,500 children and youths in need with a new home. More
than 135,000 children/youths attend SOS Kindergartens, SOS Schools and SOS Vocational Training
Centres. Around 385,000 people benefit from the services provided by SOS Medical Centres, and
more than 230,000 people from services provided by SOS Social Centres. SOS Children's Villages
also helps in situations of crisis and disaster through emergency relief programmes.
Contact:
Adriana Pontieri, International Press Officer
Tel: +43 1 368 2457 - 2185 Email: adriana.pontieri@sos-kd.org
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