Heavy rainfall in the usually dry region of Altiplano, Bolivia, has caused widespread flooding, destroying homes and leaving thousands of people without adequate shelter or food.  During March and early April, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) aided 4,000 people through the distribution of a month’s worth of food and constructed temporary housing for 300 families in the Viacha area.

In cooperation with government authorities, ADRA Bolivia is helping the most severely affected people in the city of Viacha and has distributed more than 50 tons of food staples. With the help of Viacha’s City Hall, the National Service of Civil Defense, and USAID, ADRA Bolivia has organized the only three emergency camps existing in the city of Viacha.  Each camp has a kitchen, food storage, and health care facility.

The governor of Santa Cruz assigned personnel and vehicles to help ADRA Bolivia’s Special Rescue Team distribute three tons of donated goods to flood survivors in El Pailon and San Julian. Early in the relief effort, they used boats to navigate the flooding water. Air transportation was provided by AEROSUR from La Paz.