Paraguay has been suffering from severe flooding for several weeks, since the Paraná river first flooded on 26th June. Since then the Paraguay river levels have reached dangerous levels also. On 15th July Minister of Paraguay’s National Emergency Secretariat, Rafael Valdez, said that it is estimated that the Paraguay river level continues to rise for another two weeks.
There are now 10 departments (states) in the country that have been affected by flooding: Alto Paraná, Itapúa, Neembucu, Misiones, Amambay, San Pedro, Concepción, Presidente Hayes and Alto Paraguay. The flooding has so far affected as many as 60,000 people (or 13,000 families). About 1,000 of those families affected are in the Asunción area, the country’s capital city.
Of major concern during this prolonged period of flooding is the ability of relief and rescue teams to gain access to remote communities. Many of these communities are isolated due to the heavy rainfall and floods which have washed out roads and bridges.
Paraguay’s National Emergency Secretariat (SEN) announced last week that aid in flood zones will continue for two more months in Asuncion and Neembucu department. Bedding and fire wood plus other supplies has been handed out to victims. The situation in Neembucu is more worrying as victims not only had to leave their homes, but their work also. Farmland and crops were damaged, fishing all but impossible, and the brick making sector in the region no longer able to function.
Elsewhere water levels dropped to less dangerous levels early last week. For example in Alto Paraná, levels of the river Paraná decreased allowing thousands of families in Ciudad del Este and President Franco return to their homes.
Sources: Paraguay.com; Agencia Pulsar
