Before heading to Iquitos to supervise the humanitarian aid that is arriving in the jungle as a result of forest fires, the president of the Council of Ministers, Gustavo Adrianzen, He said: “All these fires are of human origin, they are due to an ancient ancestral practice and we want to ask that with exceptional circumstances such as those we are experiencing now when we have no rain, you refrain from carrying out this practice which is worrying due to the damage it is causing.”
In this context, Walter AstudilloMinister of Defense, announced that they are constantly observing how they are developing the serious fires that are affecting much flora and fauna in several communities in the country. “Currently, we have 35 active forest fires, 15 that are under control and 1 that has been extinguished,” he told reporters.
Minister Astudillo also referred to the alleged refusal of Send help to Bolivia to control the forest fires on that side. “Our capabilities are limited and the national emergency must be prioritized. However, we proposed supporting them with water box systems or guard systems that can be used in cargo planes. We have lent Bolivia 150 boxes of guard systems,” he said.
Asks the population to remain calm
From the city of Iquitos, Adrianzen, He asked the population to remain calm and to trust in the measures that the Government is adopting to calm this situation. He also said that more than 60% of the 222 fires have already been extinguished. and that they had confirmed that the departments of Ica and Loreto are the only ones that did not have forest fires and that they hope that they will remain in that condition.
He also reported that the actions taken include urgent repairs to airstrips and airfields so that aircraft can land and get close enough to the fire site. ”Bad weather and strong winds are making this task difficult in the Amazonas region, but we will not stop trying,” he said.
The regional manager of Natural Resources speaks out
William Ayalathe regional manager of Natural Resources notes that despite the awareness and prevention work carried out in many high Andean communities, he criticized the fact that the residents do not want to abandon “cultural traditions.”
In an interview with Diario Jornada, he said that farmers listen, participate, but then forget and are very reluctant to change. According to the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (Senamhi), forest fires are linked to atmospheric conditions that have to do with humidity, days without rain, precipitation, wind direction and speed.
Criticism of the government for paying tribute to former dictator
The government, led by President Dina Boluarte, has been criticized by several social media users for its participation in the tribute to the death of former dictator Alberto Fujimori last weekend and for not paying due attention to the spread of forest fires in the interior of the country. So far, the president has not commented on this problem.
”Peru is burning in flames, ten dead, capybaras flee in desperation, while Dina Boluarte is kissing Keiko Fujimori’s feet. Carlín’s cartoon hits the Palace with an exact description of the national reality”, was one of the opinions in X.