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Government maintains more than $15 million for El Niño phenomenon emergencies |
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 By the A.M. Costa
Rica staff
The president of the National Emergency Commission, Alexander Solis, announced that there is government is maintaining emergency funds of ¢4 billion colones (about $6,593,804) within the National Emergency Commission and ¢5.2 billion colones (about $8,571,946) within the Ministry of Agriculture. The combined funds of over $15 million are earmarked to address any emergencies that may be caused this by this year’s El Niño weather phenomenon. El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (known as ENSO) and is associated with a band of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. The weather phenomenon will affect a large part of the country and may bring drought and floods in the first half of 2019. President Carlos Alvarado confirmed that, in October, he signed a directive in which the Permanent Committee of Attention to this phenomenon was created. "The directive established particular attention for small agricultural activity, including fishing and aquaculture," said President Alvarado. According to the Commission, the Municipal Emergency Committees have been activated. If an emergency occurs, they will provide for their local populations with: - Potable water supply. - Health care. - Attention to the producers of the Agrifood sector. - Attention to repair of road infrastructure. “Since last November, significant climatic changes have been observed in our country, with a very dry pattern throughout the territory but with greater impact in the Caribbean Region and the North Zone, given that in these months these regions are usually rainy," said Solís. The Emergency Commission works with public institutions to execute plans to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon. The Ministry of Agriculture reports that it is training farmers to adapt to dry conditions in both agriculture and livestock. |
 National Emergency Commission courtesy photo The
combined funds of over $15 million are earmarked
to address any emergencies that may be caused
this by this year’s El Niño weather phenomenon.
It is also working to increase the area of hay being sown so that it can be used for the livestock sector, developing new agricultural technologies and will provide individualized attention to extreme situations such as veterinary and food supplies. The Commission said that, as a consequence of the emergency of 2014-2015, the government now has more experience in preparation for and dealing with the problems caused by the phenomenon. There are strategies to ensure potable water supply, provide regular electricity service, have continuous epidemiological surveillance for diseases, provide control of forest fires and offer advice to farmers and ranchers as well as the fishing sector. The National Meteorological Institute reports that the El Niño phenomenon is expected to continue until June. This phenomenon will cause drought on the Pacific Coast and in the Central Valley. The opposite situation is expected on the Caribbean Coast and in the North Zone where heavy rains are forecast. -------- Do you know the location of the emergency station closest to your home? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com *Link to reach the place on map. |
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