BENI: Drought and forest fires | Sequía y los incendios forestales

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Beni declares a “disaster situation” due to drought and forest fires.

Beni se declara en “situación de desastre" por la sequía y los incendios forestales

Firefighters battle fires in Beni. Photo: Beni Governor’s Office

The forest fires and extreme drought severely affecting several municipalities in Beni prompted the department’s government to issue Departmental Decree 13/2024, officially declaring the region in a “disaster situation.” This declaration aims to coordinate immediate actions to address the risks these phenomena pose to life, biodiversity, food security, and the local economy.

A statement from the Governor’s Office highlights the seriousness of the situation: “Both phenomena are endangering the lives and safety of people, biodiversity, food security, and the economy.”

Governor Alejandro Unzueta emphasized the urgency of the measure, stating that affected municipalities must follow the disaster declaration process and submit the relevant regulations to the Departmental Emergency Operations Center (COED) to coordinate contingency plans.

“The municipal regulations must be accompanied by technical assessments to prepare the corresponding technical-legal reports,” the statement detailed.

The disaster declaration, which will last for nine months, will enable the implementation of emergency plans and response programs to address the natural disasters affecting the region.

Additionally, the Governor’s Office will seek necessary support from the national government and Autonomous Territorial Entities, as well as collaboration from public and private institutions, to obtain logistical equipment and other resources to help prevent, mitigate, and control forest and grassland fires.

The decree underscores the importance of working together to tackle the damage caused by drought and fires that continue to affect Beni, a region facing one of the most critical scenarios in its recent history.

BD/LE

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