Peru establishes national commission to manage El Niño risks

President Keiko Fujimori has established the National Commission for Risk Management of the El Niño Phenomenon to coordinate political and strategic responses to climate emergencies expected during 2026 and 2027. The commission will be chaired by the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, Marco Vinelli.

The body includes the ministers of Defense, Economy and Finance, and Housing, as well as the heads of the National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci) and the National Water Authority (ANA). This initiative follows the government's identification of approximately 1,900 critical points across the country, with 569 prioritized for preventative work before the rainy season.

The move aims to ensure rapid decision-making and preparedness, recalling the 2017 El Niño event which caused significant loss of life, infrastructure damage, and economic impact exceeding US$3.1 billion.