The representative of the Pan American Health Organization/WHO, Alma Morales, confirmed that steps will be taken for a new donation of medicines, while the Venezuelan ambassador, César Trómpiz, assured that he will look for a way to increase collaboration with Bolivia.
The statements took place after a meeting presided by Bolivian president Luis Arce with the diplomatic corps accredited at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the declaration of national disaster due to the fires, which have already damaged more than seven million hectares.
“We are looking for new resources to make a new donation, because we already made the first one about two weeks ago and now, since last week, we are already managing a new donation,” the PAHO/WHO representative told the press, recalling that the first donation included medicines, artificial tears, dexamethasone and other supplies.
Trómpiz, recalled that on September 13th, 61 firefighters from the Simón Bolívar Humanitarian Task Force arrived in Bolivia with the mission of reinforcing the operations to extinguish the flames and will continue in this fight. “We will look for a way to increase cooperation,” he said.
Colombian ambassador Elizabeth García reported that, just like Bolivia, her country is facing a crisis due to the fires; however, she said that “in the midst of what we do not have, we are there in solidarity.” She added that there is a group of firefighters from the Amazon that “we are thinking of reactivating, because I believe that, ultimately, it is our people who suffer the greatest damage.”
The Bolivian government approved Supreme Decree 5235 on Monday, declaring a state of national disaster due to forest fires, which are mainly affecting the eastern part of the country.
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