Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 23 October 2023) – Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

BOLIVIA: DROUGHT

KEY FIGURES

200K FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DROUGHT IN BOLIVIA

Severe drought continues to hit Bolivia, affecting some 200,871 families across the country. According to the latest report from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the amount of annual rainfall in Bolivia decreased by 28 per cent between 2018 and 2022, from 9,941 mm to 7,192 mm, respectively. Between January and August of this year, there have been 4,882 mm of rainfall. Last week, Lake Titicaca registering a water level six cm’s below its 1996 historical minimum. The Government of Bolivia has declared a disaster in Oruro and a state of emergency in La Paz, Cochabamba and Chuquisaca, regions in the west and south of the country. To date, 144 out of Bolivia’s 336 municipalities have been declared in a state of disaster, more than double the number of municipalities in a state of disaster at the beginning of the month (71 as of 2 October).

The drought has jeopardized access to water and food supply, mainly in the Andean regions where agricultural production is being lost and livestock is dying, putting livelihoods of subsistence farmers at risk. Many are already suffering the consequences of water rationing and fear running out of food and water. As close as 15km from the capital, communities only have water for two hours a day. According to WFP, more than half of the population in Bolivia, some 6.3 million people, is currently food-insecure. Of these, 25 per cent face severe food insecurity.

The Government has allocated US$17 million to address the current drought and is implementing more than 800 water, sanitation and irrigation projects, as well as emergency programs to deliver 1,200 and 5,000-litre water tanks to hundreds of affected municipalities.

CARIBBEAN: HURRICANE TAMMY

KEY FIGURES

20th NAMED STORM OF THE 2023 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON

On 18 October, Invest 94L, a weather disturbance originating from Africa, was officially upgraded to Tropical Storm Tammy, marking the 20th named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Several countries across the Caribbean, including Barbados, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and St. Maarten, issued Tropical Storm Watches as Tammy moved across the Atlantic at 15 mph. Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica subsequently issued flood warnings, given the already saturated soil in many areas due to the passage of Tropical Storm Philippe two weeks ago. On 20 October, Tammy strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75mph, and tracked slightly to the east of the Leeward Islands, resulting in rainfall between 4 to 8 inches, storm surge between 1 to 3 feet and strong winds in some areas. Barbuda, which bore the brunt of the system with extensive rainfall, reported seven people (3 adults, 4 children) were in shelters. By 22 October, the centre of Tammy was located almost 100km north of Anguilla and all Tropical Storm watches and warnings had been discontinued. No significant flooding or damages have been reported.

MEXICO: TROPICAL STORM NORMA

KEY FIGURES

200 PEOPLE EVACUATED DUE TO TROPICAL STORM NORMA

On 21 – 22 October, Tropical Cyclone Norma made landfall over Mexico’s Baja California coast as a Category 1 Hurricane, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge. Flooding was reported following at least 4 inches of rainfall around the Baja California Peninsula. According to media reports, around 200 people were evacuated and are staying in a number of shelters across Cabo San Lucas City and La Paz Town. Norma continued toward northern Sinaloa State as a tropical storm. On 23 October, its centre was located over the Gulf of California approximately 80 km west of the Altata Town, with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h. The state Government has opened 120 shelters and announced the closure of schools. A Tropical Storm warning remains in place for Sinaloa State as heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge are forecast for the following 24 hours. As Norma dissipates, Tropical Storm Otis is now approaching southern Mexico, prompting further Tropical Storm watches. Otis is currently sitting south-southeast of Acapulco and is moving northward at 5 knots. By the evening of 24 October, tropical storm conditions are anticipated to arrive along portions of the southern coast of Mexico. Heavy rainfall is forecast, with a high risk of flash and urban flooding, as well as mudslides in areas with higher terrain.