Toledo Farmers Struggle to Recover from Devastating Wildfires

Hundreds of farmers in the south continue to recover from the devasting wildfires that blazed across the Toledo District in June and May.  According to the National Emergency Management Organization, the fires impacted four hundred families across 28 communities, causing over eight million dollars in damage. The organization and several NGOs have spent weeks assisting the victims, but many remain far from returning to their daily lives. Yesterday, Toledo West Area Representative and Minister of Rural Transformation Oscar Requena spoke about the ongoing efforts.

Oscar Requena, Minister of Local Government: “Well the recovery is slow. What I can say is I want to thank the Ministry of NEMO along with Minister and the other agencies who have provided some relief to the families in terms of food. Those who were directly affected, those who lost their crops have received some support. The bigger picture right now is really to provide support in terms of recovery for the farms. Our farmers you know have lost their farms, the various agencies along with NEMO, the Ministry of Agriculture have conducted their assessments that data is there now and it’s a matter now for government to make a decision in terms of how we are going to support those farmers. So we are currently in discussion. We are working with the Ministry of Agriculture, with NEMO, with the Ministry of Human Development to see what sort of support can be put in place to support our farmers to be able to rebuild back their farms and essentially you know rebuild back their sustainability.”

NEMO is also monitoring the environmental impacts of the fires.