La Paz:Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz signed a decree on Saturday declaring a national state of emergency to combat the effects of El Nino.

According to NAMPA, President Paz announced the decree to address the drought affecting multiple regions in Bolivia and to prepare for potential flooding in the coming months. The action aims to mobilize financial and human resources, enhance coordination among government agencies, and seek international cooperation to support affected families and mitigate the impacts of climate-related disasters on lives and economic activities.

The Vice Ministry of Civil Defense in Bolivia reported that nearly 80,000 families across six of the country's nine departments have been affected by water shortages, with the drought resulting in the loss of more than 75,000 heads of livestock. President Paz highlighted that 63 communities in Bolivia are already experiencing drought conditions, and the livestock sector is facing challenges due to shortages of animal feed.

El Nino, a climate phenomenon, is characterized by unusually warm surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, often leading to abnormal weather patterns globally.