The government of President Gustavo Petro declared the state of “national disaster” at the beginning of the month in order to mobilize more public resources.
Le Monde with AFP
At least 271 people have died since the beginning of November in Colombia due to the rainy season, the strongest in four decades and which could last until March, according to an official report published Thursday, November 17. Precipitation has increased in the past three weeks, affecting 745,000 people in the country’s thirty-two departments, according to the National Catastrophe Risk Management Unit (UNGRD). In total, 348 people were injured, 6,755 houses were destroyed, as well as hundreds of roads, bridges and evacuation pipes.
The rains are associated with the cyclic phenomenon of the Niña, which leads to cooling of the peaceful ocean. Global warming could also increase the phenomenon and make it more deadly, according to scientists. Media also highlight deforestation, which multiplies the impact of floods. The winter season in Colombia normally lasts until December, but there is a “probability of more than 58 %” that it continues in February and March, warned the director of UNGRD, Javier Pava Sanchez, during A press conference.
ruined harvests
The government of President Gustavo Petro declared the state of “national disaster” at the beginning of the month to mobilize more public resources. In the context of this measure, he will grant subsidies to isolated mothers and hopes to guarantee the food of disaster victims.
The rains have also ruined harvests, which could lead to a new increase in food prices, warned the UNGRD, while Colombia has faced the highest inflation in two decades (11.4 % per year) and an unprecedented devaluation of its currency, the Colombian peso, facing the dollar.