Peruvian Government declares state of emergency in 111 districts in the South due to water deficit

The Government of Peru declared a state of emergency for 60 days in 111 districts in the regions of Arequipa and Puno, in the south of the country, due to an “imminent danger of water deficit”, informed today, Saturday, the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN).

In the supreme decree, published in the official gazette, the institution detailed that in Arequipa, at least 11 districts in the province of Caravelí have been affected by the water deficit, and in Puno, 100 districts in the provinces of Azángaro, Carabaya, Chucuito, El Collao, Huancane, Lampa, Melgar, Moho, Puno, San Antonio de Putina, San Román, Sandia and Yunguyo.

According to the resolution, the governors of these departments have warned that local farmers are the main ones affected since “they are exposed” to the imminent danger of water deficit.

“The available water resources would not be enough to meet the demand for planting or irrigation of their crops, so it is necessary to implement measures and actions of exception,” it said.

In this sense, the document emphasized that during the days of the state of emergency, progress will be made in the implementation of immediate and necessary emergency measures and actions to reduce the “very high existing risk”, as well as response and rehabilitation.

These will be developed by the regional governments of Arequipa, Puno, and the local governments included, with the technical coordination and follow-up of the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) and the participation of several ministries, such as Health, Interior, and Defense, among others.

“Said actions must have a direct causal link between the interventions and the event and may be modified according to the needs and security elements that arise during their execution,” the decree specified.

It also emphasized that the execution of the actions will be financed from the institutional budget of the involved agencies without requiring additional resources from the Public Treasury.

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