Newborns at risk as oxygen runs low in Bolivia's blockaded capital

Newborns at a maternity hospital in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, faced life-threatening oxygen shortages on Thursday (June 4) as weeks of road blockades by anti-government protesters continued to disrupt the flow of essential supplies into the city.

Doctors at the main maternity hospital said oxygen reserves were expected to last only until the afternoon, warning that any interruption in scheduled deliveries could place the roughly 20 babies in intensive care at critical risk.

The crisis has also affected the Hospital del Niño, La Paz’s only specialized pediatric center, where about 150 children are currently hospitalized. Staff said they are down to their last supplies, including only two chickens remaining to prepare meals for patients.

La Paz Governor Luis Revilla said authorities were working urgently to clear the passage of two oxygen tankers stranded near Lahuachaca so they could reach the city. He stressed that several patients require continuous oxygen support and that “many lives are at risk.”

The shortages are the latest consequence of ongoing blockades that have paralyzed La Paz and neighboring El Alto, as protesters demand the resignation of centrist President Rodrigo Paz over austerity measures and rising living costs.

-Production: Santiago Limachi, Monica Machicao, Andrea Rodriguez/Reuters