Firefighters look for survivors. Photo: Jacob Goad, PC(USA) Mission Coworker

Action

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance partners — members of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Emergency Alliance — have already met and have assessment teams in the affected regions. They will focus on the more remote and less accessible rural areas where there is a particularly high level of vulnerability. Rapid Response funds are being made immediately available from Geneva as ACT puts together a formal proposal. One Great Hour of Sharing funds will be used to immediately support the appeal.

The Presbyterian Church in Peru has initiated an immediate campaign within their churches; the churches are collecting food, clothing and blankets locally to meet immediate needs.

The ACT members in Central America have indicated their ability to send specialized teams to support the response if needed and are on standby.

For the past two years PDA has been working with CEDEPAS, an ecumenical center that provides Biblical training and development training in the highland region. We have worked collaboratively with them to develop a very strong team that can provide psychosocial support in times of disaster. They have responded this year to the flooding in San Ramon and will be ready to support this response as well.

Background

A massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale struck Peru Wednesday, August 15, 2007, about 90 miles south of Lima. National and local authorities indicate that there are 16,669 families affected (mostly by loss of homes), 510 deaths and close to 1000 injured.

The most affected locations include the regions of Ica (with the cities and provinces of Pisco, Ica and Chincha), Lima (provinces of Cañete and Yauyos) and Huancavelica (provinces of Huaytará and Castrovirreyna).

It is winter in the areas, and adobe houses are common. The National Institute for Civil Defence (INDECI) reported that damage to transportation and communication infrastructures has made evaluation difficult in many areas. Hospitals are overwhelmed and the government has declared a state of emergency in the region of Ica and the province of Cañete.

In the hardest hit city of Pisco, INDECI has sent staff and formed an emergency committee. Additional medical staff members were also sent to the region.

The most urgent needs are: drinkable water, shelter, medicines, clothes and non-perishable food. Water is being brought from Lima to Pisco and Chincha by tanker trucks, and food distribution is being organized with the support of the government’s national food program. The governments of Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Chili and Mexico have already sent in-kind support directly to the airport in Pisco.