Relief effort begins in Peru for those made homeless by quake
Christian Aid is mounting an emergency relief effort to help survivors of the earthquake in Peru.
More than 500 people have been killed and at least 1,600 injured in the earthquake which struck in the early evening on 15 August. The quake, which registered 8.0 on the Richter scale, is the most severe the region has experienced in more than 30 years.
The worst hit areas are Ica, Chincha and Pisco, where many of the houses are built of fragile mud bricks. Thousands have lost their homes and power supplies, road links and telecommunications have been severely disrupted.
In Luren, one of the poorest areas on the outskirts of Ica, 90 per cent of the houses have collapsed. The Peruvian government has prioritised the areas around Pisco and Chincha, so Ica is heavily dependent on international agencies for aid.
Access to the hardest hit areas has been limited, but Christian Aid partners based in the city of Ica have been able to respond immediately, providing water, food, medicines, blankets, tents and help to bury the dead.
"The cathedral of Pisco is also in ruins. There was a mass being celebrated, many were wounded. The hospital also collapsed and the dead bodies are lying in the streets in front of the town hall," said Dina Guerra, Christian Aid’s Regional Manager. "The type of natural disaster can vary, but it is always the poor who suffer the most.
"All of the houses were constructed literally on sand and had no foundations. Many people have been left just with what they are wearing. They are sleeping on the streets and don’t dare to go back into their homes in case they collapse," added Ms Guerra.
Christian Aid’s partner organisation the Health Houses (Las Casas de la Salud) is providing medicines to treat the injured. They and another other partner organisation Fepromu (The Provincial Federation of Women) are experienced in emergency response work. They will also be involved in the extensive reconstruction work which will follow the initial response.
Christian Aid funded emergency relief for those affected by the floods that affected Ica in 1998, so the staff of its partner organisations are experienced in providing both rapid relief and long-term rehabilitation.
For details on how to donate to Christian Aid, visit www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies.
