Impacts of the 1997-98 El Niño Event in Peru
Antonio Zapata, Kenneth Broad and Glantz, Michael H. (2000). Impacts of the 1997-98 El Niño Event in Peru. Reducing the Impact of Environmental Emergencies through Early Warning and Preparedness in the Case of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). United Nations University.
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Report
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Sub-type Technical report Author Antonio Zapata
Kenneth Broad
Glantz, Michael H.Title Impacts of the 1997-98 El Niño Event in Peru Series Title Reducing the Impact of Environmental Emergencies through Early Warning and Preparedness in the Case of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Publication Date 2000 Place of Publication Lima and New York Publisher United Nations University Pages 45 Language eng Abstract The study of the last phenomenon of El Niño in Peru has allowed us to x-ray the attitudes of society and of the government when confronted with natural disasters. We have been witnesses to the reactions and the plans of actors located on different stages. First, we have the government's analysis, seemingly very quick to respond to the early warning signals and poorly organized for long-term prevention. Indeed, after receiving the forecast for El Niño, the state developed an integrated plan in short order and the presidency of the republic displayed unusual energy to implement it. However, the inertia of the Government to face natural emergencies derives from the lack of an efficient organization and the tensions that exist with other domains of political and social power. The northern coast's business community that was severely battered by El Niño has yet to receive the priority attention that it deserves from the government. Its capacity to react has also been limited. The weakness of the regional bourgeoisie in the provinces was confirmed when they were unable to participate in the economic effort of prevention and much less in that of reconstruction. This economic effort has fallen almost entirely on the central government. The dialogue between the scientists and the politicians is inadequate or non-existent. The scientists lack the means to make themselves heard by the politicians. Only when the later summon them can they converse, but no political decision of the government is subject to the input or opinion of the scientists, who are employed by the same government to study those same issues. The politicians consider the scientists to be rara avis, which don't deserve any measure of attention. The government's reconstruction policy implemented during the post-Niño does not seem to be the most adequate. The government created CEREN, the ad hoc entity that evaluates projects, requests bids, and then contracts out reconstruction work to private industry. Most of its financial resources come from loans made by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank in addition to Peruvian sources. The dominant characteristic of their work has been slowness and inadequacy causing numerous frustrations in the affected provinces. Reconstructing the irrigation and highway infrastructures has been the leitmotiv of the government in this period. Bids have recently been requested to reconstruct urban sanitation facilities of the principal affected cities. The government has yet to consider the notion of financial aid to affected business enterprises. UNBIS Thesaurus METEOROLOGY
CLIMATE
NATURAL DISASTERS
WATER RESOURCES
PERU
EL NINO CURRENTCopyright Holder United Nations University Copyright Year 2000 Copyright type All rights reserved -
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