The national government has declared a “State of Water Emergency” in seven provinces due to the consequences of the El Niño phenomenon on Argetina’s northeastern region.
Flooding in Misiones (photo: Alba Posse/Télam/cf)
The provinces covered by the decree are Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Chaco, Entre Rios, Formosa, Misiones, and Corrientes.
The decree number 266, published in the government’s Official Gazette, cites heavy rainfall in the water basin in which these provinces are located as a cause for “shortcomings in the functioning of existing storm drains, flooding nearby neighbourhoods, affecting the network of roads, and involving loss to the inhabitants of the region.”
As a provincial state of emergency is already in place in each of the seven affected provinces in order to implement action to repair damage and prevent future destruction, the presidential decree enlists national aid in carrying out “all negotiations to obtain external funding to immediately take the necessary measures to address the critical situation at hand.”
While the provincial decrees varied in length – some lasting 150 days, others six months – the national decree will be in effect until 31st December 2016.
The decree was signed by President Macri, Cabinet Chief Marcos Peña, and Minister of the Interior, Public Works, and Housing Rogelio Frigerio.
The National Weather Service has called this phenomenon “the strongest event of its kind in 50 years,” and predicts that the effects of the El Niño – which has already displaced more than 20,000 people due to floods in Argentina – will worsen over the coming months.
In Paraguay, the worst hit, a state of emergency was declared in December 2015 and more than 100,000 people have been forced from their homes.
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