Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo recalled that this measure has been in effect since September 7 in response to the forest fires that have already devastated four million hectares and are keeping the eastern part of the Andean Amazonian country in suspense, especially in the department of Santa Cruz.
Novillo responded in this way to the request of several local authorities and politicians to declare a national disaster in response to the flames that affect 49 communities in 22 municipalities in the department of Santa Cruz, Beni and La Paz.
During the meeting with the accredited ambassadors, on September 7, the authority commented, “they have not told us that due to an emergency we are going to help them less and due to the disaster declaration we are going to help them more.”
Since September 7, when the national emergency was declared, Bolivia has received support and cooperation from Spain, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, France, Peru and Canada.
Currently, 49 forest firefighters and fire analysis specialists from Spain are working; four experts from Chile; 58 firefighters from Venezuela and 63 from Brazil.
Chile, on the other hand, provided humanitarian aid, and Spain provided 50 pieces of equipment for forest firefighters and Peru 150 Guardian Boxes, technology applied to drop thousands of liters of water from the air. “There is also help from Canada -explained Novillo- but it also facilitated the contract for the Electra Tanker T481 tanker plane and two drones with thermal cameras to monitor forest fires.”
He emphasized that international aid is provided gradually and piecemeal.
Within this context, the national government, with the cooperation of Canada, delivered this Wednesday protective equipment, food and supplies to the firefighters fighting the flames in eastern Bolivia.
“We moved to Santa Cruz to, together with representatives from Canada and thanks to their solidarity support, made a delivery to our firefighters, of protective equipment, rescue ropes, communication radios and other essential resources (…)”, said the Vice Minister of Citizen Security, Roberto Ríos.
The vice minister stressed on his social networks that over a thousand firefighters remain deployed in 15 municipalities and 39 communities in Santa Cruz, where they face extreme conditions.
He also reported that three heavy aircraft with a capacity of 30 thousand liters per mission, two Bolivian helicopters, one Chilean, one French and a Canadian tanker plane were mobilized.
The day before, four helicopters and 264 personnel were added and went to Concepción, Guarayos and San Ignacio de Velasco, in Santa Cruz.
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