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UN agencies join response to help victims of landslide in Bolivia

UN agencies join response to help victims of landslide in Bolivia

United Nations agencies have joined forces with local authorities and rescue workers struggling to deliver humanitarian aid to victims of a devastating landslide that hit a small gold mining village in northern Bolivia yesterday.

The UN country team in Bolivia dispatched an assessment mission today in support of local and national relief efforts responding to the landslide, which occurred in the small town of Chima, some 250 kilometres from La Paz. Although preliminary reports indicate that damage was extensive, heavy rains and flooding have cut off communications to the town, hampering efforts to confirm the number of those killed or missing.

The mission, which includes representatives of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), will work alongside search and rescue teams and neighbouring communities. WFP is providing enough food - 5.5 tons - to feed 200 affected families for 15 days. The UN World Health Organization, together with the Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) will provide medicines.