U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
PERU - Earthquake 
Fact Sheet #1, Fiscal Year (FY) 2001    June 25, 200


Background

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that, on June 23, 2001, at
approximately 3:33 pm local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.1 on
the Richter Scale occurred near the Peruvian coastline some 120 miles west
of Arequipa or about 375 miles southeast of Lima at 16.15 degrees latitude
and 73.40 degrees longitude. A tsunami subsequently struck along the
coastal department of Arequipa. The earthquake was also felt in northern
Chile and Bolivia. Press reports indicate that the earthquake lasted
anywhere between thirty seconds and one minute. Consistent with expected
seismic activity following earthquakes of this magnitude, aftershocks
continue to occur including three significant tremors of 6.3, 6.2, and 5.5
magnitude on June 23 and 24. The departments of Arequipa, Ayacucho,
Moquegua, and Tacna have been most seriously impacted.


Numbers Affected

The Peruvian Red Cross is reporting that 71 people were killed, 938
injured, and 52 residents missing. These numbers are expected to rise as
telecommunications are restored and information is received from more
remote locations. Preliminary estimates by the Peruvian Civil Defense
Institute indicate that up to 20,000 people are without shelter. The
displacement of residents is of particular concern to local officials as
the temperatures in the area are below freezing overnight.


Current Situation

Overview

- The Government of Peru (GOP) has established an operations center in
Arequipa to coordinate emergency operations.  In addition, Peruvian
President Valentin Paniagua has declared a state of emergency for the
affected areas and is allocating national resources to respond to
emergency requirements. He has also asked for international assistance in
responding to the most urgent needs of those impacted by the disaster.

- Water, telephone, and electrical services throughout the area have been
disrupted.

- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports that fifty percent
of the housing in the town of Moquegua, mostly of adobe construction, are
seriously damaged.

- According to PAHO, Arequipa and Tacna suffered a lesser degree of damage
to its housing stock and electricity and water have been almost fully
restored.

- The coastal ports of Camana and Chala are reported to have suffered
damage from the tsunami tidal wave.

- The Peruvian Ministry of Health reports that the main hospital in
Arequipa had to be partially evacuated due to serious structural damage.
Other hospitals in the region continue to function using emergency
generators and water reserves.

- Road transport in the area has been impacted. In the department of
Arequipa, the Pan American Highway has been temporarily blocked by
landslide debris, while the bridge connecting the southern departments of
Moquegua and Tacna has collapsed.

- Two GOP Hercules aircraft have been dispatched to the affected areas
carrying chlorine tablets, medical equipment, blankets, tents, and canned
food.


Multilateral Organization Response

- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(UNOCHA) has mobilized a U.N.  Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team,
and is working to support the Peruvian national authorities and other
donors to assess the most urgent needs of the affected local population.


Other Donors

- The Government of Japan will provide 40 tents and 2,000 blankets. They
will further make available $500,000 in emergency grants.

- The Government of the United Kingdom released emergency aid totaling
$343,000.

- The Spanish Red Cross provided $25,000 to the Peruvian Red Cross.


U.S. Government (USG) Assistance

USAID Personnel / Assessment Team

- A four-person USAID/OFDA assessment team arrived in Lima on June 24 and
traveled to Tacna with U.S.  Embassy and USAID/Lima personnel on June 25.
Two additional USAID/OFDA team members will arrive in Lima on June 25.


USAID/OFDA Assistance

- On June 24, U.S. Ambassador to Peru John Hamilton issued a disaster
declaration in response to the earthquake.  This disaster declaration
allowed for the provision of USG assistance, as outlined below.


USAID/BHR Funding Summary

USG Agency
Action
Funding


USAID/OFDA
Disaster Assistance Authority for local purchase of relief supplies
 $25,000

USAID/OFDA
300 Rolls of plastic sheeting
 $81,000

USAID/OFDA
4,500 Wool blankets
 $27,000

USAID/OFDA
5,200 Five-gallon water jugs
 $10,400

USAID/OFDA
6 Water bladders
 $15,000

USAID/OFDA
Transportation costs
$100,000

USAID/OFDA
Support costs for six person assessment team 
 $10,000

Total
USAID/OFDA Assistance for June 23 Earthquake
$268,400



Mitigation Assistance

- For more than 10 years, USAID/OFDA has provided extensive training in
Peru and neighboring seismically- active countries to increase their
capacity to prepare for and respond to earthquakes and other natural
disasters.  Courses include Rescue from Collapsed Structures, Advanced
First Aid, and Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis.

- USAID/OFDA recently assisted the GOP in establishing a first responder
program for southern Peru, working with Civil Defense, the Ministry of
Health, and the Voluntary Fire Fighter Corps.


Public Donation Information

- In the interest of effective coordination of public response, USAID
encourages the public to contact directly those private voluntary
organizations (PVOs) currently working in the region to provide monetary
donations.

- A list of the PVOs may be obtained from the USAID web site at
http://www.usaid.gov/.  Those interested in providing specific technical
relief services or commodities should contact Volunteers in Technical
Assistance's (VITA's) Disaster Information Center for information and
guidelines at 703-276-1914.

- USAID will not deviate from standard Denton Program procedures for
transporting privately donated relief supplies.  USAID will prioritize
delivery of essential relief commodities.  For more information on the
Denton Program, please refer to the USAID website at
http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/pvc/denton.html.

- For additional information about the relief effort in Peru, please refer
to the Natural Disasters section of ReliefWeb at
http://www.reliefweb.int/.

- The American Red Cross donations hotline is 1-800-HELP NOW.


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