In brief
Bolivia declared a state of emergency to mobilize resources against the severe impacts of El Nino, which has already displaced 78,000 families and killed over 75,000 livestock. President Rodrigo Paz signed a national decree calling for rescue teams and inter‑institution cooperation across six provinces. The emergency follows widespread flooding and drought, sparking concern about the livelihoods of indigenous and rural communities.
Bolivia declared a state of emergency on Saturday as El Nino threatens communities across six of its nine provinces, prompting President Rodrigo Paz to sign a national decree that mobilizes resources to mitigate flooding, drought and livestock loss.
The emergency follows a government report that the climate pattern has already displaced 78,000 families and killed more than 75,000 cattle. Local farmers, many of whom belong to indigenous groups, report that irregular rainfall has turned once‑productive valleys into dust bowls while sudden heavy rains have washed away homes in low‑lying areas.
"El Nino will have 'very severe impacts in terms of drought and floods'," President Paz said during his announcement. "We need the cooperation of all institutions to protect our families and their livestock."
In a statement delivered to the nation, the president urged the deployment of additional rescue teams in the most affected regions, a directive mirrored in the official decree. The decree authorizes the central government to reallocate emergency funds, coordinate with provincial authorities, and dispatch mobile veterinary units to care for the deceased animals.
The declaration arrives on a day of heightened concern, as the World Meteorological Organization has projected that the El Nino season will continue through February 2027, and scientists warn that the event could cause more than 450,000 deaths worldwide, with the poorest countries—including Bolivia—worst affected.
In Santa Cruz, floods last December claimed dozens of lives, underscoring the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather. The government’s emergency plan also references prior wildfires in neighboring Peru that killed at least twelve people, indicating the broader regional context of environmental crises.
President’s spokesman Rodolfo Baz, who has also chaired the emergency committee, stressed that the decree would facilitate a coordinated response across health, agriculture, and disaster‑management agencies. "This decree also calls for the deployment of rescue teams to the most affected areas," Baz said.
Indigenous communities, who often rely on subsistence agriculture and pasturing of cattle, have expressed urgency for assistance. While the national emergency will provide financial aid, Historial records from the Ministry of Agrarian Development reveal that the livestock losses have already surpassed 75,000 heads, effectively diminishing households’ capacity to rebuild.
Ambient water scarcity is expected to continue, creating a food security crisis for communities dependent on staple crops. Scientists estimate that Al‑Jazeera has noted the impending peak of El Nino at the end of 2026, likely exacerbating these conditions.
Provinces identified as affected include La Paz, Cochabamba, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Tarija, and Santa Cruz. The emergency decree specifically addresses resource allocation in these areas, a clarion call for cross‑regional cooperation in a country featuring diverse ethnic and ecological landscapes.
Other institutions, including local NGOs that provide veterinary and sanitation services, are expected to work alongside government agencies under the emergency plan, although no formal report yet details the scope of their involvement.
While the emergency signals a substantial commitment from the national government, the long‑term resilience of rural and indigenous communities will depend on sustained support and adaptive strategies to the increasingly unpredictable weather patterns observed in the Andes and lowlands.
In the coming days, the Alert‑system authorities are likely to activate specific operational protocols for displaced families and loss of livestock, providing logistics coverage for emergency supplies and veterinary care.
As the emergency remains in effect, communities across Bolivia are preparing for a season of uncertainty, hoping that the mobilized resources will bridge the immediate gap caused by the El Nino‑driven drought and floods.