SANTIAGO, Mar 5 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said the damage caused by the earthquake is huge and it will need at least three years to rebuild the affected areas.

The quake of 8.8 degrees in the Richter scale on Sat Feb 27 had a death toll of about 800, a unspecified number of missing people, 500 destroyed houses and two million victims.

Bachelet, who vacates the presidency on March 11 said reconstruction will likely take all the term of office of new President Sebastian Piñera.

Bachelet travelled to the cities of Talca and Concepcion, seriously affected by the earthquake, yesterday to see how distribution of the aid to the victims is proceeding.

“We will be at the stockpiling centers because we want to make sure the aid is reaching the South,” she said.

The president also said one of the most urgent measures being adopted is setting up the field hospitals provided by Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and Peru IN the disaster areas.

The Cuban medical brigade that arrived in Chile recently to assist the victims will set up its field hospital in Rancagua, 56 miles South from Santiago.

Among the places damaged by the earthquake were 36 hospitals, 11 of which are totally inoperatable, said the president.

The authorities established an airlift to transfer 320 tons of food and basic products from Santiago to the people in the disaster areas.

Meanwhile in La Paz, Bolivian President Evo Morales announced willingness to build schools in Haiti and Chile in solidarity for these nations struck by earthquakes.

Evo Morales told the press that experts will travel to Port au Prince, the Haitian capital that was hit by a quake on Jan 12 and Santiago, the Chilean capital hit on Feb 27 to coordinate building the schools.

Bolivia cooperates according to its capabilities and a high degree of solidarity for the people of Chile and Haiti, he added.

Morales pointed out that Bolivian humanitarian aid did not only limit itself to sending water, medicines and food.

He also highlighted the presence of a Bolivian military mission in Haiti that has been allowed by Haiti to offer its assistance.

On Wed March 3 Bolivia sent another plane with aid for the earthquake victims of Chile including 40 tons of water. Included in the Bolivian Air Force aircraft were medicines, food and water for the victims.

Two days ago Morales and Vice President Alvaro Garcia donated half their monthly salary. As part of a national campaign “Chile and Haiti need you” ministers and vice ministers also offered 30 percent of their Mar salary. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA

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