Peru President-elect Fujimori Prepares for El Niño Catastrophe

Peru's President-elect Keiko Fujimori announced urgent preparations to address the potential "catastrophe" of the El Niño climate phenomenon. Her team is developing prevention and assistance measures to mitigate floods and support vulnerable sectors such as fishing and agriculture. Fujimori expressed concern over the potential damage to human lives, property, and the agricultural sector, despite positive economic projections for the country.

The World Meteorological Organization forecasts a "strong episode" of El Niño between July and September. Fujimori highlighted that the risks extend beyond coastal northern regions to the highlands, where cold snaps and drought are threats. Lima's municipality is already undertaking cleaning and dredging of the Rímac River to prevent overflows.

Fujimori's administration plans to prioritize the recovery of artisanal fishing, which has already suffered losses due to rising sea temperatures and shifting fish populations. To expedite response efforts, she is considering emergency decrees and international cooperation for disaster relief. "We hope it doesn't happen," she added.

Nearly 800 municipalities are already under a state of emergency due to the imminent threat of torrential rains. Data from the National Center for the Estimation, Prevention and Reduction of Disaster Risk (Cenepred) indicates that over 9.3 million people face a very high risk of floods and landslides. Historically, El Niño has had severe impacts on Peru, with the 2023 event causing 99 deaths. More destructive episodes in 1997-1998 and 1982-1983 resulted in hundreds and thousands of deaths, respectively, and significant economic contractions.