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Paraguay Farmers Demand Inclusion in El Niño Emergency Centers
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Paraguay Farmers Demand Inclusion in El Niño Emergency Centers

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Rural leaders in Misiones, Paraguay, are demanding inclusion in District Emergency Operations Centers (COED) due to the potential impact of El Niño.
  • They argue that farmers are the most likely to be affected by severe rains and that their exclusion from COEDs is unjust.
  • The Association of Mayors of Misiones has acknowledged the request and plans to incorporate representatives from rural organizations to strengthen coordinated efforts.

Leaders of peasant and social organizations in the Misiones department of Paraguay are demanding representation in the District Emergency Operations Centers (COEDs). They are concerned about the potential impact of the El Niño phenomenon, which could bring heavy rains and significantly affect the agricultural sector.

Marta Pavón, a social and peasant leader from Santa Rosa, Misiones, stated that they submitted a formal request to Ramón Sanabria, the mayor of Santa María and president of the Association of Mayors of Misiones. The request seeks the inclusion of representatives from peasant organizations in the COEDs, which are being established in municipalities to prepare for potential climate events.

Pavón expressed indignation, noting that the COEDs are being formed with institutions and individuals who may not be directly impacted by floods or the effects of El Niño. She emphasized that farmers, who are directly exposed to the risks associated with severe weather, are being overlooked. "We are indignant with the formation of the COED, because they are integrating institutions and people who have nothing to do with floods or the problems caused by the effects of the El Niño climatic phenomenon, and they do not take us into account, being those who will really be affected," Pavón stated.

We are indignant with the formation of the COED, because they are integrating institutions and people who have nothing to do with floods or the problems caused by the effects of the El Niño climatic phenomenon, and they do not take us into account, being those who will really be affected.

— Marta PavónMarta Pavón, a social and peasant leader, expresses frustration over the exclusion of farmers from emergency planning committees.

She further explained that COEDs have already been formed in several districts, but peasant association representatives have not yet been invited to participate. The organizations met and drafted the note to ensure their inclusion, given that they are the agricultural producers who will bear the brunt of the anticipated heavy rains. The potential for large-scale rainfall could severely impact various agricultural productions in the region.

Ramón Sanabria confirmed receipt of the note and assured that representatives from the associations would be incorporated into the COEDs. This move aims to strengthen joint and coordinated work in preparation for El Niño, which is forecast for late August and could have significant consequences for the area.

We submitted a note requesting inclusion because we are the farmers who will be directly affected. As announced, we will have heavy rains, and this would affect the various productions we have.

— Marta PavónMarta Pavón explains the rationale behind the farmers' demand to be part of the COEDs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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