Peruvian government creates El Niño risk management commission

Peru's President Keiko Fujimori has launched the National Commission for El Niño Risk Management, a new body designed to expedite state decision-making and coordinate interventions against the anticipated impacts of the El Niño phenomenon. Expected to arrive in late 2026 and continue into 2027, El Niño could bring severe rains, droughts, and other emergencies to the Andean nation.

Fujimori stated that the commission's primary goal is to make rapid decisions and involve all relevant authorities, emphasizing the need for speed and efficiency in preparation. The commission will be formalized through a supreme resolution and will serve as the central political decision-making and strategic coordination organ for public and private actions during the preparation and response phases. It will also address drought effects in the southern and Andean regions, focusing on providing food and vaccines for animals and implementing small-scale water reservoirs and drinking troughs for livestock.

The commission will be chaired by the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, Marco Vinelli. Its members will include the ministers of Defense, Economy and Finance, and Housing, Construction and Sanitation, along with the heads of the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) and the National Water Authority, who will also serve as technical secretary. During her visit to Lambayeque, a region historically hard-hit by El Niño, Fujimori identified 569 critical points nationwide requiring priority attention, with 80 of these located in Lambayeque itself.

President Fujimori highlighted that the Ministry of Economy and Finance will facilitate necessary resources to accelerate work, particularly where regional governments have machinery but lack operational budgets. She noted that while Peru has 1,900 critical points, the commission will prioritize 569, with the hope of increasing this number through greater efficiency and private sector support. Fujimori urged regional governors and mayors to collaborate, setting aside political differences, to expedite crucial tasks like clearing riverbeds and desilting operations.