US$125,000 for victims of heavy rains and flooding in Bolivia

(La Paz, February 28, 2012).- In a letter to the president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Evo Morales, the president and CEO of CAF - Latin American bank development - Enrique Garcia, expressed the institution’s solidarity with the victims of the rains and floods of recent weeks, and officially announced a US$125,000 grant for humanitarian aid and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

"CAF wishes to express its solidarity with the people of various regions of Bolivia who have been affected by the weather events that have caused heavy losses both human and material," Garcia said.

The president of the financial institution reaffirmed CAF’s readiness to immediately approve rapid access funds for Bolivia in response to natural contingencies, especially to meet the needs of the population and areas affected by the rains.

Heavy rains throughout the country and the overflow of the Acre river in the Amazon region have caused flooding, mudslides and landslides, creating a national emergency. The situation has been aggravated by loss of life, damage to road infrastructure and, according to the Vice Ministry of Civil Defense, over 12,278 families affected in 107 Bolivian municipalities.