Primero Justicia proposes preventive measures for rainy season

Primero Justicia, an opposition political party in Venezuela, has urgently called for enhanced flood prevention policies as the rainy season approaches. The party warns that a significant portion of the annual human and material losses caused by heavy rains could be averted through adequate public management, urban planning, and strict adherence to the law.

The organization highlighted Venezuela's high territorial vulnerability, exacerbated by a lack of land use control, construction in high-risk zones, and deteriorating drainage infrastructure. They argue that a shift in risk management strategy is crucial at national, regional, and municipal levels.

Alicia Figueroa, the national secretary of Citizen Security for Primero Justicia, stressed that disaster prevention is a constitutional obligation. She stated that authorities at all levels, particularly governors and mayors, are directly responsible for developing and implementing strategic guidelines to identify, assess, and control potential threats. Figueroa criticized the current approach, which she claims leaves citizens defenseless each rainy season.

Primero Justicia has outlined four priority actions: strict control over land use and prohibition of construction in high-risk areas, alongside maintenance of drainage systems; early risk identification through technical censuses and updated diagnostics in vulnerable communities; citizen training programs on prevention, evacuation, and first aid; and effective implementation of Local Urban Development Plans (PDUL) in all municipalities to curb disorderly growth.

Figueroa also emphasized the importance of community participation in disaster prevention, noting that local action is key to reducing the impact of rains. She urged citizens to engage in emergency plans, avoid accumulating waste in ravines and rivers, and participate in drills to improve response capabilities. The party reported damage in several states since April, including Mérida, Táchira, Lara, Apure, Barinas, Amazonas, and Sucre, with notable cases of river overflows.