Bolivia Declares National Emergency to Combat El Niño Effects; Myanmar Prepares Heat Relief Shelters
Bolivia has declared a national emergency due to El Niño effects, while Myanmar sets up heat relief shelters for residents facing extreme temperatures.
Lima, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Bolivia has officially declared a national emergency to address the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon. President Rodrigo Paz signed the order on November 1, citing the need to combat severe droughts affecting various regions and prepare for potential flooding in the coming months.
According to reports from the Xinhua News Agency, the declaration aims to mobilize economic and human resources, enhance coordination among government agencies, and secure international cooperation. This initiative is designed to assist affected families and mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters on lives and economic activities.
As of now, 63 communities in Bolivia have been affected by drought conditions. The livestock sector is also struggling due to a shortage of animal feed. The country’s civil protection sub-ministry indicated that around 80,000 families across six of Bolivia’s nine departments are facing water shortages. Additionally, the drought has resulted in the deaths of over 75,000 animals.
El Niño is a climate-related event characterized by unusually warm surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, leading to abnormal weather patterns in various parts of the world.
In related news, Myanmar has established over 600 heat relief shelters in the Yangon region to provide respite from extreme heat. Local media reports that these centers can accommodate more than 150,000 people. This initiative comes in anticipation of the strong effects of El Niño. The shelters are spread across 14 districts in the Yangon area.
The Myanmar government has also ensured that health services remain operational during the intense heat. Medical staff at hospitals, clinics, and rural health centers will be on standby to assist the public. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) in Myanmar has warned that, based on assessments from the World Meteorological Organization and international climate centers, a very strong El Niño is expected to peak in November and December 2026.
The department cautioned that the upcoming hot season could bring irregular rainfall, higher temperatures, unusual storm activities, drought, and other weather-related events due to El Niño’s influence.
