Ministro de Defensa, Jorge Nieto, inaugura obra de defensa ribereña en el distrito de Yanaoca, Cusco. ANDINA/Difusión
The Peruvian Government has managed a significant reduction in frost and friaje (cold spell) victims and material damage thanks to its prevention plan, Defense Minister Jorge Nieto informed.
Government efforts to assist vulnerable populations remain underway, he noted, as High-Andean and Amazon areas continue to face temperature drops.
"We have had positive results: the number of affected citizens has declined, and we have reached out to the population that truly needed it [the assistance]," the minister said.
"The
plan has worked well and we continue to assist the population," he added.
The 2017 Frost and Friaje (cold spell) "
Antes Peru" (Peru Ahead) Multisectoral Mitigation Plan is a S/107-million (about US$32.96 million) initiative to avert major damage and casualties caused by freezing temperatures.
As part of the plan, the government has
delivered warming and veterinary kits, as well as medicine. Actions also included the implementation of "
warm homes" or properly insulated houses.
"Having worked in prevention is relevant, as was the role given to the Defense [sector] and Armed Forces in order to deploy their capacity to assist the population," Nieto pointed out.
In this sense, the Defense portfolio head affirmed assigning the risk and natural disaster management to the Armed Forces was a right move.
(END) FHG/CCR/DHT/RMB/MVB
Published: 8/15/2017