News In Brief:
– Bolivia faces a dual challenge of prolonged droughts and devastating floods, severely impacting its local farmers.
– The region needs to urgently implement climate change adaptation measures and strengthen disaster management to safeguard livelihoods and mitigate future climate-induced disasters.
Bolivia, South America’s most vulnerable country to climate crisis, faces a dual challenge of prolonged droughts and devastating floods, severely impacting its local farmers.
According to a report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the country witnessed its longest dry spell in history, affecting nearly two million people across seven out of its nine administrative districts, in 2023. Rural communities, heavily reliant on agriculture and livestock, bore the brunt with dried-up fields, depleted savings, and livestock losses.
Evaristo Mamani Torrencio from Turco, Oruro, lamented the economic toll, with each lost llama translating to approximately $100 USD, exacerbating financial strain and market stagnation.
Water scarcity compounds the crisis, leading to restricted usage, higher prices, and compromised quality, posing health risks and triggering irreversible decisions like land sale, debt accumulation, or migration.
Conversely, sudden floods in parts of Bolivia, like Cobija bordering Brazil, aggravate water accessibility challenges. The Acre River’s overflow inundated urban and rural areas, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
Julian Perez of the IFRC highlights the compounding impacts, stressing long-term repercussions on food security, water deficits, and malnutrition. Flood-related ailments such as dermatitis, respiratory infections, and waterborne diseases further strain healthcare systems.
Acknowledging the severity, initiatives by the Bolivian Red Cross and IFRC-DREF aim to alleviate suffering, providing affected communities with improved water access and essential support. However, sustainable solutions demand comprehensive climate adaptation measures, including reforestation, infrastructure enhancement, and robust disaster management systems.
As Bolivia grapples with the dual onslaught of droughts and floods, urgent action is imperative to safeguard livelihoods, protect communities, and mitigate future climate-induced disasters.
