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Bolivia: Fire-hit merchants to receive financial aid, temporary space
🇧🇴 Bolivia /Technology

Bolivia: Fire-hit merchants to receive financial aid, temporary space

From El Deber · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Firefighters are working to extinguish remaining hotspots at the Barrio Lindo fair in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
  • Government and regional officials announced financial relief and a temporary space for affected merchants to resume activities.
  • Merchants lost merchandise and stalls, with some facing debt from bank loans.

Firefighters continue to battle three active hotspots at the Barrio Lindo fair in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, following a significant fire. In response to the devastation, which destroyed stalls and merchandise, national and regional authorities have pledged financial relief and a temporary location for affected merchants to restart their businesses.

We will not abandon them. We will work.

— Juan Pablo VelascoThe Governor of Santa Cruz assured affected merchants of support following the fire.

Governor Juan Pablo Velasco urged merchants not to enter the damaged structure due to the risk of collapse. He stated that emergency teams expect to extinguish the remaining fires within 12 hours, with structural assessments beginning Saturday. "Today, the most important thing is to let the firefighters work. Tomorrow, the more complex work begins, which is entry. It is very dangerous because many columns and pillars are compromised," Velasco explained.

Today, the most important thing is to let the firefighters work. Tomorrow, the more complex work begins, which is entry. It is very dangerous because many columns and pillars are compromised.

— Juan Pablo VelascoThe governor explained the risks involved in assessing the fire-damaged structure.

Minister of Productive Development Óscar Mario Justiniano outlined a two-pronged recovery plan. The first part focuses on deferring or extending loan payments for merchants, while the second aims to provide new capital for restocking and resuming sales. "These are entrepreneurial families who bet their capital and, in many cases, have bank loans. We must ensure that, even with debts, they have money to buy merchandise again and start working," Justiniano said.

These are entrepreneurial families who bet their capital and, in many cases, have bank loans. We must ensure that, even with debts, they have money to buy merchandise again and start working.

— Óscar Mario JustinianoThe Minister of Productive Development described the financial relief measures.

A representative for the affected merchants pleaded for concrete solutions, stating, "Do not abandon us. We need temporary infrastructure so they can locate us and we can continue working. Let them not be just promises." Governor Velasco affirmed that the regional government would coordinate with national and municipal authorities to find a suitable temporary space, recognizing the sector's significant economic contribution.

Do not abandon us. We need temporary infrastructure so they can locate us and we can continue working. Let them not be just promises.

— Representative of affected merchantsA merchant representative appealed for concrete actions and a temporary workspace.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Deber in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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