Update on Flooding

For those of you that received my email on Sunday, I've gotten some more information. CNN finally has an article on the situation. According to the article some 72,000 families have been displaced, 22,500 head of cattle are dead and nearly 500,000 acres of cropland are destroyed. There were reports in a couple of the Bolivian newspapers this morning of food and medical supply shortages in Trinidad, but I haven't heard anything about that.

Monday of this week, President Evo Morales went to Trinidad and flew over the area affected by flooding. He was quoted as saying, "It made me want to cry" after viewing the numbers of people affected. He ordered the city to develop evacuation plans for the 90,000 residents, but city officials believe the elevated "ring" road that goes around the downtown area will be sufficient in keeping the waters at bay. Evo has also ordered a second dike built, for which construction will commence once the rainy season is over. Yesterday he declared a state of national emergency for the floods which have affected the whole country, Trinidad and Santa Cruz just happen to lie in the worst areas hit and he has allocated $50 million towards disaster relief. There is a clause in the Bolivian Constitution that allows the President to do this and allocate 1% of the country's budget to relief. Additionally Bolivia has received $25 million in aid from various foreign nations including $9.2 million from the United Nations.

Interestingly, La Palmera resides on the "ring" road, so it should be safe from any flood damage unless the waters rise significantly. The road between Trinidad and Santa Cruz is also still open. I'm now even more anxious to get down to Trinidad and help with the disaster relief, it will provide some great opportunities for witnessing to others in bringing the message of the Gospel.