April 15, 2008

U.S. Embassy Employees and USAID Donate Water Tanks in Pando

On April 14, The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) delivered three 10,000 liter ferro-cement water tanks to three communities in the department of Pando. USAID also delivered medicines, plastic water containers, hygiene kits, and mosquito nets to the medical post in Portahuelo. This donation, which will benefit 369 persons in the communities of Portachuelo Alto, Medio, and Bajo, is the result of a contribution made by the U.S. Embassy employees in La Paz, USAID, and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). The beneficiaries are all victims of severe flooding occurred in early 2008. With this recent donation, the humanitarian relief aid provided by the United States to Bolivia is estimated at $758,000.

During the relief effort carried out by the U.S. Government in January, the Food Security Unit realized that the three communities in Pando lacked fresh potable water because during the rainy season River Beni overflows and contaminates a clean water spring located near the river’s bank. These three communities were thus condemned to drinking contaminated water during the river flood season. The donated tanks will now store potable rain water to be used by communities. Physical and chemical tests have been made to make sure this water is fit for human consumption.

The U.S. Government’s humanitarian relief effort for flooding victims in Beni and Pando this year includes:

• January 29: The U.S. Government approved the donation, for immediate use, of $150,000 to assist communities seriously damaged by natural disasters. The donation included tents, supplies, emergency equipment, and tools for rapid reaction in the affected communities.

• February 8: A U.S. Embassy aircraft brought from La Paz more than 4 tons worth of metallic structures to set up emergency tents.

• February 11: U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Philip S. Goldberg delivered in Trinidad a relief donation consisting in plastic material for tents, water containers, and personal hygiene kits, donated by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).

• February 29, the Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Bolivia, Michael Yates, delivered in Trinidad another humanitarian assistance donation. This cooperation effort included healthcare kits containing medicines and medical supplies for the treatment of up to 30,000 people for 3 months.