On Thursday, the government announced the allocation of ¢5.2 billion to face the El Niño weather phenomenon, which will start hitting the country from the last weeks of this year until May 2019. The resources will be administered by the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).
El Niño is a phenomenon caused by an abnormal warming of the Pacific Ocean along the equator. Its effects are an increase in the frequency of typhoons in the Pacific and the decrease of hurricanes in the Atlantic. In the case of Costa Rica, it will cause droughts and floods throughout the national territory.
According to the Executive, the phenomenon will generate a severe rainfall deficit in the North Pacific, in the Central and South Pacific there will be a moderate water deficit. In the Caribbean an excess of rainfall is expected and in the Central Valley a rainfall deficit.
President of Carlos Alvarado and the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza, signed a directive that creates a committee composed of 12 institutions. The objective is that all parties involved create a plan to guarantee the regular service of electric power, drinking water supply, epidemiological surveillance, fire control and support to the agricultural and livestock sector.