Bolivia’s government has declared a state of emergency over the worst drought in 25 years, making funds available to alleviate a crisis that has affected families and the agricultural sector. The vice-ministry of civil defense estimated that the drought has affected 125,000 families and threatened 290,000 hectares (716,605 acres) of agricultural land and 360,000 heads of cattle. The national state of emergency comes after 172 of the country’s 339 municipalities declared their own emergencies related to the drought. Last week, residents of El Alto, near La Paz, briefly held authorities with a local water distribution company hostage to demand the government explain its plans to mitigate the shortage. The drought has prompted protests in major cities and conflicts between miners and farmers over the use of aquifers.

Source: The Guardian November 21, 2016 17:14 UTC