Colombia Declares 12-Month National Disaster State Over El Nino Risks

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Xinhua, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the government has declared a 12-month national disaster state because of risks linked to El Nino. Colombia's government issued a decree on June 23 to let it mobilize resources early, reduce the risk of weather-related disasters and respond to a potentially severe crisis from El Nino. The decree includes setting up an emergency fund, drawing up a water-saving action plan and taking steps to strengthen food security in the most vulnerable areas. Petro said on X that much of Colombia is likely to face extreme drought from December 2026 to March 2027, describing it as a drought that may be unprecedented in the country's history. He added that the measures are intended to address medium-term challenges and urged the incoming government to coordinate them responsibly with short-term actions.