La Paz, March 2 (RHC)-- Bolivia’s Ministry of Education has begun an aid campaign to collect school materials to help students affected by the intense rains the country has faced this month.  Minister Roberto Aguilar and his deputy ministers will distribute the materials throughout Bolivia’s nine departments, all of which that were hit by deadly floods. 

The director of Education of Chuquisaca, Humberto Tancara, told local media that a first collection was already distributed there by the Directorate of the Departmental Literacy Program.  The school materials program will continue simultaneously alongside the health personnel and medicines that have been delivered to affected areas. 

The severe flooding over the past few weeks has driven some 85,000 people out of their homes, with the government declaring a state of emergency on February 7. 

Bolivian President Evo Morales has visited the affected areas, promising help to all those that will require it.  He stated that these natural phenomena are consequences of climate change, “an evil that affects not only the country, but the entire world.”