EU humanitarian aid to Bolivia and Paraguay

The European Commission has approved €1.95 million in aid for flood and drought victims in Bolivia and Paraguay. The aid, managed by the EU's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), will be spent in the next six months on food, water and seed distribution programmes, medical care and training in natural disaster prevention. Nearly 12 000 Bolivian families in rural areas and 6500 peasant families in Paraguay will benefit from the aid.

The poorest provinces and departments of the two countries have been particularly badly affected. In Bolivia the farming communities of La Paz and Cochabamba were heavily hit by the flooding in late 2000/early 2001 and by the drought in 2000. In Paraguay the prolonged drought since June 1999 has caused severe damage to the populations of many departments. The lack of drinking water and the loss of harvests make living conditions very precarious. Children in the department of Concepción are suffering from chronic malnutrition.

The projects will be implemented by five of ECHO'S humanitarian partners: Médecins du Monde (Spain), Italy's Coordinating Committee of the Organization for Voluntary Service (COSV) and International Cooperation (COOPI), and the Spanish and German Red Cross.

Since 1999 ECHO has financed several humanitarian operations in Bolivia and Paraguay. This new decision brings the aid allocated by ECHO to a total of €3 284 000.

| Top |