February 28 2007
SOS Emergency Aid for flood victims in Bolivia
Press release
(28 February 2007) - SOS Children's Villages is all set to begin its emergency relief efforts for children and families affected by the worst floods to hit Bolivia in 25 years. Approximately 70,000 families in the rural regions of the Santa Cruz and Beni districts are affected, and many have had to abandon their homes and possessions.
Alfonso Lupo, national director of SOS Children's Villages in Bolivia, said the emergency relief efforts of SOS Children's Villages will focus on providing food and medicine for affected families, as well as providing protection and education for children in the districts of Santa Cruz and Beni.
So far, some 500 emergency parcels have been prepared including items such as milk, cereals, canned food, kitchen utensils, candles, matches, tools, hygiene products, medicine and school books. SOS Children's Villages will shortly be preparing a further 500 such boxes. In addition, SOS Children's Villages plans on providing day-care for the children of flood victims. Two day-care centres will go into operation shortly for approximately 450 children.
SOS Children's Villages operates nine children's villages, as well as several social and educational programmes, throughout Bolivia. These include projects in the flood-hit district of Santa Cruz, which have remained largely unscathed by the natural disaster and all continue to operate.
The childminding programmes organised by the SOS Social Centre in Santa Cruz, are also still running although many employees are having trouble reaching their workplaces because the floods have cut-off many areas of the district.
SOS Children's Villages is active in 132 countries and territories. 444 SOS Children's Villages and 354 SOS Youth Facilities provide more than 60,500 children and youths in need with a new home. More than 135,000 children/youths attend SOS Kindergartens, SOS Schools and SOS Vocational Training Centres. Around 385,000 people benefit from the services provided by SOS Medical Centres, and more than 230,000 people from services provided by SOS Social Centres. SOS Children's Villages also helps in situations of crisis and disaster through emergency relief programmes.
Contact:
Adriana Pontieri
International Press Officer
Tel: +43 1 368 2457 - 2185
Email: adriana.pontieri@sos-kd.org