Response to Peru Earthquake
Overview
On August 15, 2007, a massive earthquake struck the central coast of Peru, south of the nation’s capital of Lima. It was Peru’s worst earthquake in 37 years. Within seconds, homes, hospitals, businesses, roads, bridges and services were destroyed—affecting more than 650,000 people.
For the five affected Peruvian departments—Ica, Lima, Huancavelica, Ayachucho and Junin—the Peruvian Civil Defense System has reported:
- 519 lives lost
- 1,366 people injured
- nearly 140,000 houses damaged or destroyed
Immediately following the earthquake, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement),
UN agencies, the Peruvian Government and humanitarian organizations mounted large-scale relief operations. Relief operations lasted an estimated three months, when early recovery efforts commenced. Early recovery activities are ongoing to address basic needs, including shelter, healthcare and water and sanitation.
However, some relief activities have been delayed due to the slow removal of rubble as well as heavy rains in January 2008. According to the Government of Peru, machines for rubble removal are being deployed to Pisco, one of the most devastated cities.
Red Cross and Red Crescent Response
The American Red Cross has contributed emergency assistance valued at more than $600,000, including cash assistance, relief supplies—tarps, kitchen sets and hygiene kits—and the deployment of a Relief Emergency Response Unit delegate. The American Red Cross is now helping approximately 10,000 people in Chincha Province to recover from the earthquake and reduce vulnerability to future shocks through transitional shelter, psychosocial support and health and hygiene education. As part of our 18-month program, we are training Peruvian Red Cross staff and volunteers on topics such as shelter and health, as well as general humanitarian principles and project management. At the national level, we are supporting the Peruvian Red Cross with technical guidance, as well as with specific training on finance, administration and security procedures. The American Red Cross is investing more than $2 million for these early recovery activities in response to the Peru earthquake.
The Peruvian Red Cross (PRC) benefited from the assistance of more than 530 volunteers from 26 branches. Initial PRC activities included needs assessments, psychosocial support, medical care, the provision of clean water and the distribution of relief supplies. As of February 2008, Red Cross distributions in Pisco, Chincha, Ica and other rural areas had exceeded the initial target of 7,500 families. The PRC has now transitioned to early recovery activities, with support from the American Red Cross and other Movement Partners.
In support of the PRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) mobilized more than 50 International Federation and Partner National Societies' delegates and at least nine plane loads of Red Cross relief supplies to the affected regions. The International Federation’s Pan-American Disaster Response Unit handed over responsibility to the Regional Representation Office (RRO) for South American in Lima. The RRO continues to support the PRC with the development and implementation of the early recovery program and capacity building.
Finding Missing Loved Ones
The Peruvian Red Cross is still fully engaged in emergency relief operations. The Ministry of Health of Perú has published a Website listing the wounded from the regions of Lima and Callao. Go to www.minsa.gob.pe and click on "Relación de Pacientes Trasladados a Lima." The Ministry of Health is also preparing a list of persons who have died and has established a telephone number for the general public: From Perú: 0 800 108 28; from outside Perú: (511) 315 66 00 Ext. 2788.
How to Support the Relief Efforts
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Donate to the International Response Fund |
You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
To make a donation: |
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Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) |
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Make a secure, online donation. |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter |
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Mail a Donation |
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster, please do so at the time of donation.
NOTE: The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. |
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Become A Volunteer |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter regarding local opportunities to help at home, or visit Volunteer Match to become a Red Cross volunteer. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas. |
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Find your local Red Cross chapter |
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Visit VolunteerMatch.org |
Promote the Red Cross |
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Support the American Red Cross by hosting an online advertisement/public service banner on your Web site encouraging others to make a financial donation. |
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Sign up to host an online advertisement/public service banner |
About Donations of Goods or Collected Items
Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is not able to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items.
If you represent a company wishing to offer supplies in bulk, please contact your local Red Cross chapter.
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Read more About Collections of Goods and Individual Items |
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Find your Local Red Cross Chapter |
Inquiries Media or Public
Please visit the American Red Cross Press Room on Redcross.org for the latest press releases, media advisories or statements, links to available news photos, video and public service announcements. |
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Visit the Press Room on Redcross.org |
Medial Requests ONLY |
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NATIONAL Requests: Call Disaster Public Affairs at 202-303-5551 |
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LOCAL Requests: Find and contact the closest Red Cross Chapter |
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Public requests, including private citizen, business, or student: |
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Visit the Contact Us page. |
Additional Resources
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