Cyclone Yaku: Peru Government declares emergency in Lima’s landslide-affected southern districts

LIMA, March 16 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Council of Ministers approved declaring a state of emergency in several districts of southern Lima affected by landslides, Pres Dina Boluarte reported on Wednesday.

She led a press conference following the Council of Ministers session held at the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) in Lima’s Chorrillos district.

Boluarte announced that she will fly over said area together with Cabinet members. “We will be flying over Lima’s southern area to see the progress of those works that are being carried out,” she said.

Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Alberto Otarola announced that a state of emergency would be declared in Lima’s districts of Punta Hermosa, San Bartolo, Pucusana due to heavy rains that have triggered landslides and affected the population.

President Boluarte affirmed that the Government will continue working in favor of those families who have been affected by landslides.

“We continue working; we are not going to stop (…) We are going to continue (working) until we regain what has been lost and what we have to restore for our brothers and sisters in their tranquility and quality of life,” she said.

The Head of State announced the five measures to be implemented by the Government in the coming days within the framework of national emergency.

The top official announced that work will be done on the accreditation of a person in charge of civil defense (tasks) at municipalities so that he/she becomes part of said institutions permanently and is not removed in the event of a change in the administration following an electoral process.

“This experience has shown us that those people who are trained at municipalities, to be able to deal with this type of emergency, are replaced once another administration takes office; thus, all training given to them by Indeci is of little or no use in an emergency situation,” Boluarte explained.

The President indicated that a social housing program, in addition to Techo Propio (Own Roof), will be promoted.
“We have seen that several families have been left without homes, and we also have to respond to that,” she noted.

Additionally, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will allocate a budget to the Ministry of Defense for the purchase of helicopters and the maintenance of those currently available. — NNN-ANDINA