Noboa Declares Response to El Niño a National Priority

Ecuador has placed its response to El Niño at the center of national policy after authorities issued a red alert across the country. President Daniel Noboa signed Executive Decree 485 in Guayaquil on August 31, declaring continued prevention and preparedness efforts a national priority.

The decree follows the red alert issued on August 29 by the National Secretariat for Risk Management. It says government action must adapt as the phenomenon develops and as authorities identify changing risk scenarios.

Nine ministries must coordinate measures within their areas of responsibility. They include the ministries responsible for government, infrastructure and technology, public health, environment and energy, labor and human development, economic and productive development, education, sport and culture, national defense, and the interior.

The Ministry of Economic and Productive Development must take the necessary budgetary steps to ensure that the agencies involved receive resources on time. Noboa also urged provincial, municipal, metropolitan and rural parish governments to prioritize and strengthen their own action plans.

The decree further calls for stronger monitoring of oceanic, atmospheric, meteorological and hydrological conditions. The National Committee for the Regional Study of El Niño and the National Secretariat for Risk Management will coordinate that work, and the measures will remain in effect while the red alert continues.