August 22, 2007

The death toll from the Wednesday (August 15) earthquake in Peru now stands at 503, with 1,042 injured. Some 34,410 families were affected, mainly through the loss of their homes, reports the National Institute for Civil Defense (INDECI). Public infrastructure remains severely damaged in the affected areas, and access to quake-hit areas remains limited.

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). The regions include a large number of villages, towns and cities of various size dispersed among numerous valleys. Adobe houses are common throughout the region.

RESPONSE: Church World Service is supporting efforts by its partners and fellow Action by Churches Together (ACT) members in Peru, including the Evangelical Lutheran Association for Aid to Community Development (DIACONIA), Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and the Center for Studies and Disaster Prevention (PREDES). All three CWS partners and ACT members in Peru have activities in the affected area, and are focusing efforts on less accessible, poor and vulnerable areas, with provisions of water, shelter, medicines, clothing and non-perishable food among the priorities in response.

Among the expected CWS-supported responses are:

PREDES and DIACONIA will carry out activities in the district of Grocio Prado, Chincha province. The CWS-supported partners will provide 100 temporary emergency shelters, as well as providing water containers, latrines, Hygiene Kits and tool kits.

LWR plans to implement activities in the Districts of San Juan de Castrovirreyna, Villa de Arma, Cotas, Tantará, Aurahua, and Chupamarca, in the provinces of Huaytará and Castrovirreyna, Huancavelica Region. LWR will provide 250 family with food kits for two weeks. Psychosocial care will be provided to 500 children in recreational meetings. Social support will also include trainings for about 1,000 families to strengthen the participants' ability to cope with crisis situations and help the affected communities.

CWS anticipates issuing a full appeal for the Peru response shortly.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org