Government of Bolivia declares emergency in the country due to forest fires

The Minister of Defense, Edmundo Novillo, confirmed the measure of the Executive, which seeks international support to put out the flames. “As a national government, it has been decided to declare a national emergency and for that we are doing the procedures as immediately as possible,” said Novillo, quoted by news agencies.

The official stressed that the decision will make it possible to advance a joint inter-ministerial work, much more active and dynamic, between all institutions related to the task of mitigating fire and monitoring the health system in the face of any contingency.

So far, 1.5 million hectares affected by fire have been reported in wooded areas and 2.3 million in grasslands, for a total of 3.8 million hectares throughout Bolivia. The dispatch of aircraft, firefighters, experts, equipment and humanitarian aid are among the main requirements to combat the phenomenon