IR-PREP - Special Preparedness Activities for El Nino in Paraguay

This Operation expired in February 2016.

Most climate models indicate that by the end of the year a strong El Niño phenomenon will develop in the Pacific Ocean. The intensity of this event is beginning to increase with a peak expected for the last quarter of 2015. According to different sources, this could become one of the strongest El Niño of the last 35 years.

Paraguay is a landlocked country prone to climate-related disasters. Boosted by the El Niño phenomenon, extreme climate events have caused in the past floods and drought. Heavy rainfall normally causes the Paraguay and Parana rivers to overflow.

Since 2012 WFP has been supporting the Government of Paraguay in improving its preparedness and response capacity. The National Emergency Secretariat (SEN), the Government agency responsible for emergencies, is on alert with regards to the potential negative impacts of El Niño. Upon SEN’s request WFP is assisting in preparing multi-sectoral contingency plans.

The duration of this project will be for 3 months (15 November 2015 to 14 February 2016).