Defense Minister Rafael Rey said Monday he will propose to Peru’s presidential Cabinet that the country’s military be in charge of responding to natural disasters, following torrential rains, mudslides and floods that have devastated the country’s southern Andean region.
Peru’s National Civil Defense Institution, or Indeci, is currently responsible for working with local and regional governments to prevent natural disasters and coordinate humanitarian assistance when required. Rey says national and local government have been inefficient in dealing with recent flooding in southern Peru because they either lack experience or their employees have been personally affected by the rains and unable to work. He suggests that Indeci become part of the Armed Forces to improve its perparation and response to natural disasters.
“Taking into account the experience and logistics of the Armed Forces, they could contribute to the efficiency of civil defense,” state news agency Andina reported Rey as saying.
Congresswoman Rosa Florián says the military should have a larger role in preventing and responding to natural disasters, however under the supervision of a strengthened Civil Defense institution.
“It would be good to have a larger participation of the Armed Forces in the Civil Defense,” Florián told Andina. “There is a deficiency in projects to strengthen river banks… it would be sensible to use the army’s engineering.”
Peru’s government announced a 60-day state of emergency in the Cusco department last Monday as heavy rainfalls and mudslides battered the country’s southern Andean region. The storms flooded the Vilcanota river, which blocked the railway between Cusco and Machu Picchu. About 2,000 tourists were stranded at Peru’s sacred Inca citadel and top tourist attraction.
Peru’s Civil Defense estimated Friday about 23,500 people had been left homeless and more than 37,000 people lost part of their property. Flooding destroyed 4,000 homes, devastated 14,000 hectares of agricultural land, swept away 14 bridges and damaged numerous highways.
