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Peace Corps Volunteers in Bolivia Are Safe

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 22, 2006 Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter announced that all Volunteers serving in Bolivia are safe and are returning to their working and living sites. Several Volunteers were consolidated last week following recent political events in the country.

The Peace Corps staff in Bolivia remains in constant communication with Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. Each Peace Corps program has an Emergency Action Plan specific to that country and developed in cooperation with Peace Corps Washington and the local U.S. Embassy. The plans are evaluated and tested frequently and information is updated constantly. Volunteers are thoroughly trained in their roles and responsibilities, and posts are prepared for all emergencies.

Since the initial opening of the program in 1962, more than 2,500 Volunteers have served in Bolivia. After a hiatus, Peace Corps returned to Bolivia in 1990, and today there are 144 Volunteers serving in the areas of health, agriculture, business development, education, and environment.

Families may contact the Peace Corps' Office of Special Services with any questions or concerns they may have. Special Services maintains a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week duty system. The telephone number during standard office hours is 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470; the after hours number is 202-638-2574.