UN agencies step up aid as heavy rains continue to ravage Bolivia

United Nations agencies are stepping up assistance to Bolivia, where El Niño-induced heavy rains have caused over a dozen deaths and continue to displace civilians.

Almost 19,000 families – or 94,000 people – have been affected by the floods and subsequent landslides, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing statistics from the Bolivian Government, which declared a state of emergency last month.

This is more than double the number of affected families reported two weeks ago. Some 17 people have been killed and three are reported missing.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has authorized the distribution of 61,520 rations to feed over 3,000 families in five affected departments, while a UN Emergency Technical Team is providing assistance to Government agencies and stands poised to respond to further needs should they arise.