Drought hammers Bolivia, Chaco region

A months-long drought is hitting the Chaco region of Bolivia, putting at risk farmers and hundreds of thousands of livestock. The government has declared a "yellow alert" but so far has done very little. Four international agencies are moving to help the worst affected areas. The biggest population centers, in El Alto and La Paz, also are facing water shortages due to lack of rainfall to the dams and the lack of snowmelt from a series of disappearing glacial formations in the Andes.
The drought was having continent-wide impacts for much of the year, but some areas have had relief and others are waiting for rains to come.
For a region-wide look at climate and weather issues from earlier this year, see this Tierramerica story on the IPS wire.