Bolivians struggle to cope with devastating flooding

TRINIDAD, Bolivia, Mar 1 (Reuters) When the rivers near Trinidad, Bolivia, began to swell 10 days ago, Arnoldo Guzman and his family sought sanctuary in a nearby evangelical church.

''I feel like Noah,'' Guzman said. ''As soon as I saw the water rising, I grabbed everyone and came to this church.'' Guzman, his wife and their five children are among the thousands of Bolivians forced to abandon their homes following the worst flooding to hit the country in 25 years.

Extensive flooding that began in December has killed about 35 people and affected about 350,000.

Bolivian President Evo Morales declared a national disaster yesterday and said there were problems delivering aid from United States, Venezuela, Italy, Peru, Argentina and other countries to hard-hit areas.

''Evidently, the situation is very drastic. There are many homes in rural areas where a helicopter can't even land to provide food and medicine,'' Morales said.

About 150 families, including Guzman's, used to live in Villa Monasterio, a shantytown in the outskirts of Trinidad in northeastern Bolivia. Now, most live with relatives or in makeshift tents on the road that links the airport with downtown Trinidad.

Trinidad, home to 90,000 people, is the capital of the cattle-ranching Beni district, which is bursting with rivers that feed into the Amazon. It is surrounded by a road that doubles as a dike, protecting the city from frequent flooding.

The rivers have risen in recent days and officials are concerned the dike could break and flood the city.

In parts of Villa Monasterio, where Guzman's family lived, only tree tops, roofs and electricity posts are above water.

The floodwaters are also melting the adobe bricks of homes.

About three feet (1 metre) of water has flooded the church where Guzman and 14 others took refuge, so the group built a makeshift floor on top of the church's pews.

''We are surviving thanks to the food aid we are receiving ... but we have not eaten any fresh fruit or vegetables in 10 days,'' said Guzman, who worked as a bricklayer for 6 dollar a day.

His wife, Hermosinda Carranza, complains there is no dry land for going to the bathroom.

''We have to do everything from the boat. ... We ran out of toilet paper days ago,'' she said.

Estela Rivero fears she will not be able to return to her home in three months because the floodwaters show no signs of receding.

Most of her belongings, including her refrigerator, wardrobe and clothes are under water.

''That's a lot for us,'' she said. ''We are poor, we have almost nothing.'' Reuters AD RS1902