Early in the evening on Wednesday 15 august, Peru was hit by an earthquake which lasted two minutes. It registered 8.0 on the Richter scale and is the worst the region has experienced in more than 30 years.
More than 500 people have been killed and at least 1,600 injured. The south of the country was the hardest hit; hospitals, churches and homes collapsed, killing many people and leaving many more without housing.
Our partners respond
Access to the hardest hit areas has been limited, but Christian Aid partners based in the city of Ica have been able to respond immediately, providing water, food, medicines, blankets, tents and support to bury the dead.
The most affected areas are Chincha, Pisco and Ica where many of the houses are built of mud bricks.
‘The cathedral of Pisco is in ruins. There was a mass being celebrated, many were wounded. The hospital also collapsed and the dead bodies are lying in the streets in front of the town hall,’ said Dina Guerra, Christian Aid’s regional manager.
‘The type of natural disaster can vary, but it is always the poor who suffer the most.’
In Luren, one of the poorest areas on the outskirts of Ica, 90 per cent of the houses have collapsed.
‘All of them were constructed literally just on sand and had no foundations. Many people have been left just with what they are wearing. They are sleeping on the streets and don’t dare to go into their homes since they are afraid of being killed,’ said Ms Guerra.
Christian Aid’s partner organisation the Health Houses (Las Casas de la Salud) is providing medicines to treat the injured. They and another other partner organisation Fepromu (The Provincial Federation of Women) are experienced in emergency response work. They will also be involved in the extensive reconstruction work which will follow the initial response effort.
Our partners are at the forefront when disasters and emergencies strike. You can help support their work by donating to our Disasters and emergencies fund.