CommunicationPublished on 7 October 2024

Forest fires in Bolivia – Switzerland’s Humanitarian Assistance

Millions of hectares of forest have been destroyed in Bolivia due to major fires. The Bolivian authorities have declared a national state of emergency. In response, the SDC has dispatched a team to support crisis management and provide aid to the affected parts of the population.

The SDC has dispatched an emergency team from the region. — © SDC

Due to persistent forest fires raging throughout Bolivia, the government declared a nationwide state of emergency on 9 September 2024. This year alone, four million hectares have been destroyed by fire in Bolivia. The fires are primarily affecting Bolivia's lowlands, with the departments of Santa Cruz and Beni being the most severely impacted.

Four million hectares of forest have burned in Bolivia this year. — © SDC

Fifty-four municipalities and more than 20 nature reserves across the country have been affected. Over 30,000 people have been forced to relocate and are now living in improvised camps or makeshift shelters. Given the intensity of the fires and in view of the weather forecasts, the situation is likely to remain difficult in the coming weeks and months.

Deployment of specialists from the region

Following the declaration of a national state of emergency, the SDC's regional hub in Lima, established a crisis unit. Switzerland submitted an official offer of aid to the government under its humanitarian agreement with Bolivia. After receiving positive feedback, the SDC deployed a regional rapid response team (GIAR - 'Grupo de Intervención y Apoyo Rápido'), comprising four GIAR members from Peru and Bolivia. A water, sanitation and hygiene expert from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit joined the team from Switzerland, bringing a drinking water module. The team began operations in the department of Santa Cruz on 14 September. It was one of the few teams operating in the area to address the most urgent needs of the communities.

Support for crisis management, access to water and healthcare

The team installed a module to restore access to safe drinking water for 10,000 people. — © SDC

For a fortnight, the team supported the regional and local authorities in managing the crisis. They installed a module to restore access to safe drinking water for 10,000 people. They then handed over the equipment to local partners after training them in its operation and maintenance.

The team delivered medical supplies and essential goods to two hospitals and a dispensary in the Urubichá district. — © SDC

Air pollution caused by the forest fires and the extreme heat have led to numerous health problems among the region's inhabitants. The team delivered medical supplies and essential goods to two hospitals and a dispensary in the Urubichá district, benefiting approximately 12,000 people. All these measures were taken in coordination with humanitarian and governmental organisations.

In addition, the SDC has allocated CHF 200,000 to support the rehabilitation projects of the NGOs Helvetas and Solidar, which are active in the affected region. These activities will take place over the next six months. The initial focus will be on assisting the most affected people, followed by targeted measures to help them restore their livelihoods. The SDC is closely monitoring the spread of forest fires threatening neighbouring countries, particularly Peru and Ecuador. In July, the SDC's regional hub launched the ‹Manejo Integral de Fuegos› initiative with national decision-makers in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia to define measures and mechanisms to combat the fires. The initiative also aims to minimise the risk of such disasters in the future.