Brussels, 04/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Chaco region in Bolivia, which covers an area of 150,000 square km has been experiencing record high temperatures and longer than average periods without rainfall for three consecutive years since 2008. The cumulative impact of drought has reached its most critical level in the 2010 dry season and is seriously impacting on human population, livestock and agricultural activity. In the face of this situation, the European Commission decided on Thursday 4 November to allocate €1.5 million to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by the drought. The main humanitarian and recovery needs for the Commission are assistance for subsistence farmers and small-scale livestock producers: improving access to water, restoring their means of subsistence, for example through distribution of seeds, and disaster risk reduction. On this last point, Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said: “We must try to avoid 'repetition' of such crises whenever possible. This will help people to improve their lives instead of having to start again from nothing after every shock”. (O.L./transl.rt)