Emergency Assistance to Bolivia for Torrential Rain Disaster

February 22, 2002

On February 22 (Fri), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance in kind (equivalent to approximately seven million yen) comprising blankets, plastic sheeting, and tents as emergency aid to the Government of Bolivia, which has sustained damage from torrential rain.
In Bolivia, torrential rain that fell on the afternoon of February 19 (local time) in La Paz, the capital city, destroyed houses and caused other heavy damage. According to the city of La Paz and the local media, the disaster caused huge human and material losses. As of February 21 (local time) there were 77 people dead, about 200 injured, more than 50 missing, and about 3,000 persons afflicted; transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges in La Paz, has been heavily affected.
The Government of Bolivia has therefore requested emergency assistance from the Government of Japan, while conducting relief and restoration operations by the disaster relief headquarters established mainly by the President's Office, with the Ministries and Agencies concerned.
The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency assistance from a humanitarian point of view, taking into account the seriousness of the disaster and the friendly relations between Japan and Bolivia.

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