The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has doubled its appeal for emergency funds to assist survivors of the earthquake that devastated Peru on 15 August, leaving more than 500 people dead, some 655,000 people affected and nearly 140,000 homes destroyed. It is now seeking 10.6 million Swiss francs ($9.6 million USD / euro6.5 million) to meet the reconstruction and recovery needs of particularly vulnerable survivors. As of mid-November, there were more than 24,000 people still living in 100 camps, in the four most affected coastal provinces, Pisco, Chincha, Ica and Cañete.
This is the second increase of the emergency appeal, which was first revised on 20 August to 5.6 million Swiss francs ($4.7 million USD / euro3.4 million). The appeal’s first revision was generously covered.
The additional funding will be used to finance the construction of better quality transitional shelters for 1,000 families (of five people each on average). It will also support 1,800 families in rebuilding a new home in rural areas and marginalized communities, the community reconstruction of some 10 communal centres, as well as health care and water projects for hundreds more.
“The reason we have revised the appeal a second time is that, because of the magnitude of the devastation, all the needs of affected communities are far from being met,” explains Linda Stops, Operations coordinator for the Americas at the Federation Secretariat in Geneva. “This is particularly true for families living in overcrowded camps or inappropriate shelters, with very limited access to basic services, such as health care and clean water.”
Since the beginning of the disaster, the Peruvian Red Cross (PRC) mobilized more than 430 volunteers from 25 branches in the country. To date they have distributed relief items (including food, water, clothes, hygiene articles, kitchen utensils, blankets and tents) to more than 20,000 families (100,000 people). They have provided basic health care to some 3,000 people, as well as psychological support to nearly 9,000 quake survivors. In addition, almost 5.4 million litres of clean drinking water have been provided to 24,600 people.
In addition, the Spanish Red Cross, with funding from ECHO, is supporting the construction of 2,000 temporary shelters in Ica, and a joint PRC/American Red Cross project will see 2,000 more shelters built in Chincha.