An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck south of Lima . The region affected has approximately one million civilian residents. Initial damage assessments are reporting that over half of the buildings have been damaged or collapsed. The death toll has risen above 500 and expected to climb. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced and are in need of shelter, food, clean water and access to health care.

Global Medic is the operational arm of the David McAntony Gibson Foundation (DMGF), a registered Canadian charity that runs capacity building programs in post conflict nations and provides disaster relief services to large scale catastrophes around the world. Global Medic operates a Rapid Response Team (RRT) that is staffed by professional rescuers including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics who volunteer their time to respond overseas. The RRT operates a Rescue Unit designed to save disaster victims; a Water Purification Unit designed to provide clean drinking water to disaster victims; and an Emergency Medical Unit that uses inflatable field hospitals to restore medical infrastructure.

Over the past 4 years, Global Medic Teams have deployed to over 20 international disasters. Responses have included Hurricanes in Grenada and Guatemala ; Earthquakes in Pakistan and Indonesia ; Tsunamis in Sri Lanka and the Solomon Islands ; Typhoons in the Philippines ; and Floods in Pakistan and Indonesia . Currently, a Rapid Response Team is running a hospital treating over 2500 civilians daily in Bangladesh .

Global Medic is deploying elements of its Rapid Response Team to the region. An advance team leaves immediately to assess damage and determine the need for deployment of a full medical team, a water purification team, and a field hospital. The advance team will distribute a consignment of donated goods including essential medications, portable water purification systems, and water purification tablets. A Search and Rescue component will also be deployed including a dog unit. The dog and handler will sweep the area assisting local rescuers and officials to target survivors and can then help with recovery operations.