Nariño boosts El Niño preparedness and security operations

Municipal administrations in Colombia’s Nariño department have launched a series of sub‑regional workshops to update contingency plans and strengthen disaster‑risk protocols ahead of an anticipated El Niño season that could extend into early 2027. The initiative, led by the department’s Directorate of Disaster Risk Management, targets all 64 municipalities, focusing on health, water supply, sanitation, agriculture and environmental measures. Officials highlighted actions to reduce forest‑fire risk, conserve water during dry periods and protect agricultural, livestock and fishery production. Community participation is encouraged through campaigns on water savings and fire‑prevention practices.

Concurrent with climate‑related preparations, departmental authorities and the national police have intensified security operations across several Nariño municipalities. Patrols, verification checkpoints and preventive campaigns aim to curb criminal activity, reinforce public confidence and improve overall safety. The combined emphasis on disaster readiness and public security reflects broader concerns about the region’s shift from relative peace to heightened violence, a transformation attributed to strategic location, illicit drug routes, weak state presence and the post‑peace‑deal power vacuum.

These coordinated efforts seek to mitigate both environmental and security threats, safeguarding rural economies and community well‑being throughout Nariño.