SOUTHCOM responds to flooding in Bolivia

MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

01.29.2008

Courtesy Story

U.S. Southern Command

MIAMI – U.S. Southern Command began distributing $48,000 in relief supplies for victims affected by heavy rains and flooding in Bolivia, Friday.

The supplies, consisting of potable water, tents, blankets, mattresses, clothing and tools to aid with flood recovery and prevention, were purchased in Bolivia by the command's military group, assigned to the U.S. embassy in La Paz.

An estimated $23,000 worth of relief supplies have already been delivered to date to Bolivian relief organizations for distribution to communities impacted by flood damage in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, La Paz, Oruro and Potosi. An additional $25,000 worth of supplies are expected to be delivered within the next 48 hours.

The command also directed the deployment of a four-person Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team today from U.S. Army South, located in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to Bolivia to assist with ongoing damage assessments in areas impacted by the torrential flooding.

The team, consisting of officers specializing in civil affairs, engineering, medical and aviation operations, will augment the U.S. embassy's military group and work with personnel from the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

"A HAST team's primary purpose is to assess the overall situation in terms of humanitarian needs following a disaster," says Lt. Col. Kevin Charlton, the team leader and U.S. Army officer in charge of civil affairs. "We go in and see where the damage is, what kind of response is needed, and then send that assessment up to the higher levels so they can determine what we can provide in material, logistical, or other appropriate support, and how to best do that."

The Bolivian government declared a national state of emergency and requested assistance from the international community Jan. 21. According to government officials, the flooding has killed 30 people, affected nearly 25,000 families and caused more than $30 million in damage.

U.S. Ambassador Phillip Goldberg issued a disaster declaration initiating U.S. assistance to the South American nation, including $100,000 for immediate aid Jan. 27.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2008
• Date Posted: 01.30.2008 15:10
• Story ID: 15922
• Location: MIAMI, FLORIDA, US