Damages caused by landslides and floods ravaging Peru provide an opportunity to carry out proper reconstruction and prevention works to avoid future emergencies, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski affirmed on Friday.
In this sense, the Head of State stressed the need for river retaining walls, flow control structures and well-anchored bridges.
"These are elementary things. We have the chance to start doing this right over the next months […], and to try to remove common hurdles hindering investment in our country," he said.
The statesman emphasized natural disasters lashing the Inca nation were both unexpected and unforeseeable.
He noted that, while it is not possible to tell how much longer these will persist, the ocean points to dwindling sea surface temperatures.
"Hopefully [temperatures decrease]. A great deal of work lies ahead of us," he observed.
In this respect, the economist said the priority is "to assist victims and to ensure they have water, food and shelter.”
"That's the first need; we will deal with reconstruction later," he added.
Lastly, the 78-year-old leader reiterated his optimism that Peru will get through the emergency.
"I am an optimist; this will pass. Facing such a hard situation poses a challenge for us, but I think we can overcome it," he pointed out.
Remarks were made during the launching of Telefon, a fundraising campaign that brings government and telephone operators together in an attempt to collect donations for victims of rains, landslides and flooding.
Financial support shall be offered via SMS text messages, through Telefon system. Text D to 1400 from any mobile phone or call 1224 from any Movistar home phone.
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