Food security for flood affected families

Appeal Target: US$ 71,718

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. The rains caused flooding in the nine departments of Bolivia resulting in the loss of human lives, crops and animals. 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 among the 70 “severely affected” declared 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 not have food in the coming months, nor will they have seeds for the next planting season, to begin in August. Another effect of the flooding is the soil erosion, which reduces the availability of agricultural and pasturelands for the local livestock - an important part of the families’ capital.

Through the ACT Rapid Response Fund (RRF) request 9/2008, ACT members Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Evangelical Methodist Church of Bolivia (IEMB) have been responding 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 - another strongly affected area of the country - with food and medicine.

In continuation of the RRF phase, LWR plans 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 as well as the local authorities, school cluster directors and experts of the municipality.

The IEMB is preparing a proposal for the intervention in the departments of Potosi and Beni, which will be integrated into this appeal as soon as it is completed.

Project Completion Date: 18 February 2009

Reporting schedule:

Interim narrative & financial: 18 August 2008
Final narrative & financial: 18 April 2009
Audit: 18 May 2009

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office