"We should work together" - Morales says as fires rage in Bolivia

Record ID: 1428817

  • Title: "We should work together" - Morales says as fires rage in Bolivia
  • Date: 27th August 2019
  • Summary: ROBORE, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 27, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GENERAL VIEW OF PRESIDENT EVO MORALES MEETING WITH OFFICIALS AND DISCUSSING FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS OFFICIALS DURING MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT EVO MORALES SAYING: "I am joining all of you to confront these fires. All I want to say, before adversity, there should be unity, solidarity. Additionally, there should be a lot of generosity and brotherhood. We should work together instead of protesting here and there." VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS DURING MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT EVO MORALES SAYING: "Our environment team has verified that we have around 1,100 fires. Additionally, close to 2 million litres of water has been dropped from the SuperTanker, helicopters and other aircraft that we have leased in an effort to put out the fires. I am going to Rio Negro or Otuquis to see the results and later, we will head to Concepcion. I have information that there are fires there and the operations will continue to put these fires out." OFFICIALS DURING MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT EVO MORALES SAYING: "Peru and their brotherly President Martin Vizcarra sent last night two helicopters that carry (a total) of 3,000 litres (of water). We are working to incorporate those two helicopters into the fight. Yesterday I spoke with the president of Paraguay and he told me that they are also in the fight and asked if their planes could enter Bolivian territory and I said there would be no problem. We have asked that if further firefighting is required along the border, the planes are authorized so that we can work together. I have asked for more helicopters to be leased and I was informed that there is a large North American helicopter that can carry up to 12,000 litres." GENERAL VIEW OF MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT EVO MORALES SAYING: "Well, the G7 (countries) have said they would help with 20 million dollars. I am not certain that is enough. You are all aware of the Paris (Climate) Accord -- to fight global warming together. Now that there are fires, they want to cooperate. Any cooperation is welcome and urgent and not only for Bolivia but for South America. You are all aware of the situation in Brazil, Paraguay and we are obligated to work together. Finally, I call on a pact, some form of alliance dedicated to biodiversity. Now is the moment for us to unite and work together."
  • Embargoed: 10th September 2019 17:22
  • Keywords: Bolivia wildfires fire emergency President Evo Morales firefighting
  • Location: ROBORE AND PUERTO BUSCH AND CHARAGUA, BOLIVIA
  • City: ROBORE AND PUERTO BUSCH AND CHARAGUA, BOLIVIA
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Fires,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA002ATZVXVR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Bolivia's President Evo Morales called on Tuesday (August 27) for cooperation and unity in order to combat raging wildfires in his country as well as in neighbouring Brazil.
    In an about-face, Morales on Sunday (August 25) said he was now open to international aid to fight the blazes that have engulfed rural villages and doubled in size since Thursday (August 22).
    Morales is also suspending his campaign for re-election for at least a week, just two months from election day, to focus on the wildfires.
    "I am joining all of you to confront these fires. All I want to say, before adversity, there should be unity, solidarity," Morales said on Tuesday from the town of Robore. "Additionally, there should be a lot of generosity and brotherhood. We should work together instead protesting here and there."
    The blazes burn unabated across vast swaths of hilly tropical forest and savannah near Bolivia's border with Paraguay and Brazil. At least 1 million hectares, or approximately 3,800 square miles, have been impacted by the fires, officials said.
    Morales' government had been slow to accept the aid, initially saying it would use its own resources to fight the fires, but pleas from villagers and officials of Santa Cruz province led to an about-face. Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Chile and Spain have all offered support.
    Television footage showed out-of-control flames and opaque clouds of smoke engulfing villages, scorching savannah and farm fields dotted with wavering palm trees and ripping across hillsides.
    A Boeing 747 "Supertanker" from the United States has been working daily over parts of Bolivia with the firefighting. Morales has mobilized more than 2,000 firefighters, as well as small aircraft and helicopters. But the area affected by wildfire has nonetheless nearly doubled since Thursday.
    Political rivals accused Morales of a slow response. Some have said his rural development policies have contributing to the problem, as farmers set the forest alight to clear land for pasture and settlement.
    Thousands of wildfires are also decimating the neighbouring Brazilian Amazon, the world's largest rainforest. The blazes have nearly doubled this year compared with the same period in 2018, prompting global outrage.
    The Amazon basin's vast forests are widely seen by scientists as a buffer against climate change.
    Bolivia's portion of the Amazon, while not as extensive, remains heavily forested. The Andean nation is one of the poorest in the western hemisphere but one of the richest in biodiversity.
    (Production: Santiago Limachi, Monica Machicao)
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