Direct Relief is reaching out to partners in Bolivia to offer assistance in the wake of extensive flooding in Rurrenabaque. News reports indicate that 52 people have died in the flooding and several villages are heavily flooded in the departments of La Paz, Beni, and Cochabamba after about a month of rain.

Direct Relief’s team is in contact with Rio Beni Health Project, a longtime partner which provides health care services to people living in remote areas along the Beni River in northeastern Bolivia. Rio Beni conducts regular health camps as well as medical outreach by boat to provide care in villages that roads don’t reach.

Based on previous responses to flood emergencies, health issues that arise during flooding include skin and respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections, which are exacerbated when displaced people are living in close quarters in temporary camps.

Direct Relief will keep in contact with Rio Beni and other partners to monitor the situation in Bolivia.