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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has issued a preliminary emergency appeal for 1.6 million Swiss francs (US$ 1.3 million/€980,000) to support the Peruvian Red Cross (PRC) operation for survivors of the strong earthquake which devastated regions south of Lima, the capital of Peru, on 15 August. The funds will be used to supply some 20,000 people (4,000 families) with emergency items including tents, blankets, jerrycans, clothes, bedding and plastic sheeting.
“Immediate needs for the survivors include shelter – it’s winter now in Peru, and people need to be protected from the cold. They also need access to clean water,” explains Peter Rees, acting deputy director of disaster management, at the International Federation’s Secretariat in Geneva. “The funds will also finance vital psychological support to help survivors overcome the trauma of the catastrophe.” According to official figures, 437 people have died, more than 800 people are injured, and nearly 17,000 houses have been destroyed. It’s estimated that the town of Pisco, with a population of just over 54,000 people, has suffered around 70% destruction of its infrastructure. Roads have been very severely damaged and telecommunications remain very difficult. The Peruvian Civil Defence System, (INDECI) has set up a logistical centre at the air base in Pisco to dispatch relief to the affected areas. All health centres and hospitals have been put on maximum alert, all doctors have been requested to make themselves available and all health services for the injured are free of charge. The Peruvian Red Cross has now mobilized all its resources for this emergency operation. Additional teams of volunteers trained in first aid, and damage and needs assessments, including medical personnel and ambulances have been sent into the rural areas of Ica, the worst-affected region, from Arequipa. The Peruvian Red Cross Lima branch has also sent an additional team to support the operation in Pisco. A PRC national intervention team, along with a logistician, was sent in yesterday to do initial assessments in Pisco and Ica. The Federation’s Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU), based in Panama, sent a plane loaded with relief items (tents, blankets, plastic sheeting, jerrycans) for 2,000 families to Peru and has deployed two disaster management delegates to assist with the emergency operation. The International Federation immediately released 250,000 Swiss francs (US$205,000/ €153,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Peruvian Red Cross relief operation. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: In Lima:Susana Arroyo, Regional Communications Officer Tel: + 511 221 8151/ + 511 97 55 5772 In Panama:
Manuel Rodriguez,
Regional Communications Officer (PADRU) Tel: + 507 316 1001/2/3 / + 507 66 79 4334 In Geneva:
Marie-Françoise Borel, Communications Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 43 46 / + 41 79 217 33 45
Duty phone: Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81
Hector Emanuel/American Red Cross
Panama City, Panama, cargo airport.
American Red Cross and Canadian Red
Cross supplies - tarp and hygene kits -
being unloaded from trucks which bring
them from the Red Cross Red Crescent
Panamerican Disaster Relief Unit (PADRU)
warehouse. In a few minutes they’ll be
sent by plane to Peru.
PADRU was immediately put on high alert
after the quake struck and has deployed
two of its disaster management delegates
to assist with the emergency operation.
REF:
Hector Emanuel/American Red Cross
Lima Airport, Peru.
Downloading supplies from the Panama
flight and then loading then to a USAF
flight that will take it to Pisco.
REF:
International Federation
Pizco, Peru.
Goods are stored in the Pisco Red Cross
headquarters by Red Cross Red Crescent
staff.
Despite the deteriorating security
situation, the distributions on the
ground have started.
REF:
International Federation
A camp has been set up by Red Cross Red
Crescent.
REF:
International Federation
The funds will also finance vital
psychological support to help survivors
overcome the trauma of the catastrophe.
REF:
International Federation
In Pizco it is estimated 80% of the town
collapsed, and electricity and water
supplies have been cut off. Thousands of
families have lost their homes in Pisco
and are living outside on the streets,
next to destroyed houses and human waste.
Water and sanitation is increasingly
needed here.
REF:
The Peruvian Red Cross immediately
dispatched a National Intervention Team
to the epicentre region to evaluate the
level of damage and the needs of
affected people.
REF:
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
