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24 August 2001 By Fernando Nuño in Arequipa Along the coast of Camana in southern Peru, the remains of houses lie like beached whales on the shore. They are the remnants of life as it was before an earthquake measuring 8.2 hit this south American country on June 23. The tremor, which killed 74 people and left about 200,000 homeless, was swiftly followed by a tsunami or tidal wave here that not only destroyed homes, but poured salt water over crops many kilometres inland. Fresh water is not only essential for the people, but also for the recovery of the land. "The tsunami means that before we can rehabilitate the irrigation system, we need to clean the land," explains Isabel Solano, International Federation water and sanitation delegate based in Arequipa, one of three affected departments. "Fresh water is not only a priority for the people themselves but also for getting the seeds to sprout again." As a priority for the rehabilitation phase, the Peruvian Red Cross with the support of the International Federation, has started providing water and sanitation systems for 3,560 families. Solano is leading the Red Cross programme in the earthquake-hit departments of Arequipa, Mollendo and Tacna. Included in the programme are three health brigades that have organised 168 water and sanitation and community health workshops for 42 communities. These brigades work with villagers not just on water issues for personal use, but also for the land. At the local school in the village of Chucarapi, 12 kilometres from the coast, 40 people are taking part in one of these workshops. Mostly women, the participants concentrate on their immediate needs - new houses, school, security, even more TV channels. When asked if they had not forgotten something, Magali Rivera, a teacher from Chucarapi, responds: "drinking water. This is our main need. The earthquake knocked down the only water tank that we had and collecting from the brook means a risk." The workshops started with the training of those who later train the villagers in disaster preparedness, epidemic prevention, garbage and the proper use of dumps as well as basic hygiene. They were complemented by the installation of water tanks and latrines in eight communities and the delivery of 2,725 hygiene kits in Arequipa, Islay and Tacna. But during two months of the relief operation in Peru, the earth has not stopped shaking in the south of the country. The last severe quake, measuring 5.0 on Richter scale, affected Apurinac Department on 8 August, resulting in 4 deaths and damage to more than 800 houses. In this aftershock situation, falling rocks could crush water pipes and divert the course of rivers and streams. Know-how on how to manage existing systems and "prepare" the people for any eventual disaster is as important as the best facilities. When the earth will finally stop shaking, 42 communities will know better how to preserve essential supplies of safe water - both for them and their crops. More news and report from Peru Volunteering Make a donation |
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Federation
delegate Isabel Solano, discusses the best location for a new
water system with a local leader in La Haciendita
