Farm leaders from the department of Misiones formally requested their inclusion in the District Emergency Operations Centers (COED), which are being formed in municipalities to address the potential arrival of the El Niño phenomenon. Leader Marta Pavon, from Santa Rosa, expressed indignation at the current composition of the COEDs, alleging that they include institutions and people without direct relation to the impacts of flooding, while agricultural producers, the most affected, are left out.
The mayor of Santa María and president of the Misiones Mayors Association, Ramón Sanabria, confirmed receipt of the request and guaranteed that representatives of farmers' associations will be incorporated into the COEDs to strengthen coordinated work.
Meanwhile, in Ñeembucú, the minister of the National Emergency Secretariat (SEN), Arsenio Zárate, met with departmental and municipal authorities to define prevention strategies. Zárate warned that El Niño could arrive in the country starting August 30, coinciding with the traditional Santa Rosa storms, and persist for approximately seven months.
He urged mayors to prioritize cleaning waterways, canals, and drains to reduce flood risk, highlighting that Ñeembucú is a region of wetlands and low-lying areas highly vulnerable to flooding. Zárate also informed that SEN is already acquiring food and other supplies for immediate assistance, following instructions from President Santiago Peña to treat Ñeembucú and Misiones as priority departments in the national contingency plan.
In the legislature, committees of the Chamber of Deputies held joint meetings to analyze the impact of El Niño and evaluate contingency plans. The meeting, led by deputies Johana Vega and Dalia Estigarribia, was attended by Minister Zárate, Vice Minister of National Defense General Lilio Cardozo, and Director of Meteorology and Hydrology Eduardo Mingo, among other authorities.
Simultaneously, the Animal Protection and Welfare Commission of the Chamber of Deputies debated initiatives to protect animals during extreme weather events. Proposals include creating temporary shelters for pets affected by heavy rains and flooding through coordination between municipalities, governorships, and SEN. The National Director of Animal Defense, Protection, and Welfare, Héctor Rubín, emphasized that animals also suffer the consequences of climate change.