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28 February 2001 by Ana Rosa Boyán Godoy in Guanay The small town of Guanay still carries the scars of severe flooding that struck Bolivia in December. Some 700 families lost everything; muddy clothes and rotting mattresses lie dumped on the rubbish tip. Further rains in January are producing serious cracks in houses. Now the sun and hot weather have brought an invasion of flies and mosquitos, leading doctors to fear that there might be an outbreak of malaria. In January, rain flooded a petrol station. The fuel spread into the streets and was accidentally ignited. The fire was so huge it destroyed four blocks of houses and could not be put out although torrential rain was still falling. "People started to run from one place to another not knowing what to do and how to act, it was total confusion," explained Ricardo Zegarrauno, a member of the Guanay municipal government. Guanay, which has a population of 30,000, lies 250 kms north of the capital, La Paz. Fernando Rueda, the Federation's relief delegate, visited the town to find that although the floods are receding, the emergency is still severe. "Today, the 30-degree temperature and the heat are suffocating. Little by little the streets are being cleaned, but the sadness and pain are still vivid. Most people's belongings are damaged, clothes are full of mud, putrid mattresses have been thrown out together with the broken utensils, enlarging the rubbish heap that is an eloquent picture of the misfortune suffered by this town. There is almost nothing left to save," explains Fernando. The possibility of a malaria epidemic scares the residents; the sun and hot weather have brought an invasion of flies and mosquitos. In Guanay, Dr. Eduardo Torrico has confirmed 30 cases of malaria, and is concerned that there may be an outbreak. The local hospital is braced to treat malaria patients, with six doctors and the necessary medicines. Other infections such as cholera, fungi, stomach problems, respiratory and skin infections are also a threat for residents of Guanay. Aaron Sardón, an eleven-month old baby has caught malaria. Over the past few weeks, he has been fighting for his life, suffering from diaorrhea, vomiting and a high fever. Today he is better. His aunt Lucy Sardón explained that he had been stung by a mosquito on the first day the floods struck the city, because the family had to sleep outdoors as their home was flooded. As time passes, the psychological impact of the disaster is beginning to surface. Even the children are begging for the rain to stop. "They are traumatized, they need psychological support", explained Abadón Quevedo, Mayor of Guanay. The town has no money to pay for the reconstruction of the houses destroyed by the disaster. People are beginning to clean the mud out of their houses on their own. Landslides on Coronel hill, above Guanay, are also posing a threat to families who live there. Severe cracks have developed in homes, as a result of the January rains, and water is dripping into homes. Since local people do not have any other shelter, they refuse to leave their homes. If the rain continues, another disaster could happen, because there is no drainage for the waters that run downhill. Alberto Achimo Salinas, an inhabitant of Coronel with seven children, explains: "We are scared, especially when it rains during the night. Our house cost us so much work that I do not know what to do, I do not know where to go with my children, so we continue to put brackets on the walls so that they do not fall on us. We have even stopped going to work", he adds. It is estimated 85,000 people are severely affected in western Bolivia by incessant rains which began in early December. Some 100 Bolivian Red Cross volunteers have been mobilized throughout the affected region to help evacuate victims, provide first aid and distribute food and other items. The Red Cross is helping to manage temporary shelters and has joined in assessment missions with representatives from government and other aid agencies. Volunteers are also carrying out health education campaigns to avoid the spread of disease. A joint Red Cross/Caritas national campaign has been launched to collect food, clothes and blankets for flood victims. However, the success of their work and the rehabilitation of those affected by the floods is threatened by a poor response to the International Federation's appeal launched on February 1. Less than three per cent of the 1.5 million Swiss francs sought (to assist 36,000 people) has been received from donors. Related links Bolivia floods appeal More news and reports from Bolivia Make a donation |
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