U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
PERU - Earthquake
Fact Sheet #3, Fiscal Year (FY) 2001    June 28, 2001

Background

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, the Peruvian capital.  A tsunami subsequently struck along the
coastal department of Arequipa, with ocean water surging one half-mile
inland.  The earthquake was also felt in northern Chile and western
Bolivia.  Press reports indicate that the earthquake lasted more than one
minute.  Consistent with expected seismic activity following earthquakes
of this magnitude, aftershocks continue to occur, including 2 aftershocks
between magnitude 6 and 7, 12 between magnitude 5 and 6, and more than 125
smaller tremors.


Numbers Affected

The Peruvian Civil Defense Institute (INDECI) is reporting that 115 people
were killed, 1,529 were injured, and 55 residents are missing.  These
numbers may rise further as telecommunications are restored and
information is received from more remote locations.  Estimates by INDECI
indicate that a total of 188,295 people have been affected, many of which
were left without shelter.  It is estimated that 34,549 homes suffered
damage, while 14,841 homes were destroyed. The displacement of residents
is of particular concern to local officials as overnight temperatures in
the area are below freezing.


Current Situation

Overview

- The Government of Peru (GOP) has established an operations center in
Arequipa to coordinate emergency services, and has allocated all available
resources to respond.  To date, 150 million soles ($35 million) are being
redirected in the national budget towards relief operations and
reconstruction.

- After surveying the damage on June 24, Peruvian President Valentin
Paniagua declared a state of emergency in the departments of Arequipa
(population 1,036,000), Moquegua (population 143,000), and Tacna
(population 262,000), as well as in the provinces of Parinacochas and
Páucar del Sara Sara in the department of Ayacucho (population 520,000).  
President Paniagua has asked for international assistance in responding to
the most urgent needs of those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami.

- The Peruvian Ministry of Welfare (PROMUDEH) has sent an assessment team
to the area to conduct a food needs analysis.

- Health teams from the Ministry of Health and Social Security were
deployed to the affected areas with additional medicines and supplies.

- In Moquegua, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports that
tanker trucks are being used to distribute potable water.

- Rescue work and the delivery of aid to local residents has been
complicated by rockslides that have cut off some rural roads, according to
local officials.

- The Peruvian Red Cross has 500 volunteers and staff conducting search
and recovery operations, caring for the injured, and assisting those
suffering health effects from exposure to severe weather.

- GOP aircraft have been dispatched to the affected areas carrying more
than 344 metric tons (MT) of relief supplies, including chlorine tablets,
medical equipment, blankets, tents, and canned food.  INDECI has
established an air-bridge between Lima and Arequipa.

- After surveying the damage in Arequipa on June 24, President-elect
Alejandro Toledo departed on a pre- scheduled trip to the United States
and Europe where he has been discussing the need for international
assistance to rebuild affected areas.

- On June 27, the Peruvian Red Cross hosted the first official
coordination meeting in Arequipa with donors, NGOs, and local government
officials.


Damages/Assessments

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

- The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) and the Peruvian Red Cross report that more than 90% of the houses
in Moquegua suffered some damage, and of these 40% have been destroyed.  
The neighborhood of San Francisco was especially hard hit.  The water and
sewage systems of Moquegua have collapsed.  Most of the housing stock in
the affected areas is of adobe construction.

- According to PAHO, the towns of Arequipa and Tacna suffered moderate
damage to its housing stock.  While electricity and water services in
these urban centers are nearly restored, the rural areas remain without
power.

- The coastal towns of Camana (population 20,000), Chala, and La Punta are
reported to have suffered damage from the tsunami that followed the
initial earthquake.  Approximately 2,000 hectares of agricultural land
were destroyed as the ocean water surged one-half mile inland. Catholic
Relief Services reports that an estimated 80% of the houses in the village
of La Punta were destroyed.

- PAHO reports that the Goyeneche Hospital in Arequipa and the Hipolito
Unanue Hospital in Tacna had to be partially evacuated due to structural
damage.  In Arequipa, Moquegua, and Ayacucho several health centers
collapsed.  Most hospitals in the region are functioning using emergency
generators and stored water reserves.  There has been an increase in the
number of gastrointestinal and diarrheal cases reported.

- Road transport in the area has been impacted.  In the department of
Arequipa, the section of Pan-American Highway leading to Lima that had
been blocked by landslide damage and debris is now passable with some
restrictions. The bridge at Locumba connecting the southern departments of
Moquegua and Tacna, which collapsed, is now under repair. A number of the
rural roads in the affected area suffered blockage and are in the process
of being cleared.

- Relief organizations report that 70% of the schools in the department of
Arequipa have been badly damaged.


Multilateral Organization Response

- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(UNOCHA) has mobilized a U.N.  Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team
(UNDAC), and is working to support the Peruvian national authorities and
other donors to assess the most urgent needs of the affected local
population.  UNOCHA released $30,000 in an emergency grant for immediate
relief assistance.

- The United Nations Resident Coordinator and Swiss Disaster Relief (SDR)
have established a joint coordination cell within the office of the United
Nations Development Program in Lima.  A joint UN-SDR field liaison cell
has also been established in Arequipa.

- The United Nations Children Fund, in cooperation with the GOP, is
supporting the delivery of antibiotics and re-hydration salts, overseeing
a nutrition program including infant food for children between six months
and three years of age, and conducting a social surveillance to identify
and assist children in affected communities, especially in remote areas.

- PAHO disaster experts from its Ecuador office arrived in Peru on June 24
and are supporting Peruvian Ministry of Health and INDECI authorities in
assessing immediate needs, evaluating damages, and providing health
services to affected populations.  PAHO has issued an appeal for $605,000
to support its emergency assistance efforts.

- The World Food Program has made available $200,000 in emergency funds
for the local purchase of food.  It is estimated that this will supply
20,000 families with food for one month.

- IFRC is appealing for two million Swiss francs to support the Peruvian
Red Cross emergency operation for victims of the earthquake.  The IFRC
airlifted an initial planeload of emergency relief items (including tents,
blankets, and food) on June 25 from its logistics base in Panama.

- The American Red Cross provided a cash donation to the Peruvian Red
Cross more than 5,000 blankets, 400 tents, and 250 rolls of plastic
sheeting.  The British Red Cross deployed two logisticians and the
Japanese Red Cross sent a four-person medical team.  Spanish and German
Red Cross delegates are also responding to victims' needs.  The Spanish
Red Cross has provided $25,000 to the Peruvian Red Cross.

- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved an emergency
credit of $20 million to finance reconstruction in the affected areas. The
World Bank and IDB have sent assessment teams.


Other Donors

- The European Union, through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), has
pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance to help meet the urgent
emergency needs of victims.  The funds will be utilized by NGOs to provide
essential relief items, food aid, temporary shelter, medical support,
potable water, and sanitation facilities.

- The Government of Belgium has approved emergency assistance of $333,000
and shipment of relief supplies.

- The Government of Canada is providing $500,000 in relief assistance
directed through the IFRC, PAHO, and several NGOs for blankets, shelter,
and health care.

- The Government of Chile has provided relief supplies including tents and
emergency food packages.

- The Government of Denmark through the Red Cross has provided $11,500 in
emergency funds.

- The Government of France has provided emergency assistance including
1,000 blankets, 200 five-person tents, and 14,000 food rations.

- The Government of Germany is providing $440,000 in assistance to aid in
the rebuilding of damaged housing.

- The Government of Japan (GOJ) is providing 40 tents, 2,000 blankets,
water tanks, and generators.  The GOJ will also make available $500,000 in
emergency grants, and has dispatched a four-person medical team.

- The Government of Norway has made a $20,000 donation of emergency funds.

- The Government of Spain (GOS) supplied transport for a shipment of
emergency supplies on June 26, including water purification tablets,
blankets, temporary shelter, emergency food rations, and cooking kits.  
ECHO financed these relief commodities. The GOS will provide a total of 60
MT of emergency supplies with a value of $180,000.

- The Government of Sweden is providing $200,000 of emergency relief
supplies.

- The Government of Switzerland has approved $120,000 for emergency
assistance.

- The Government of the United Kingdom released emergency aid on June 24
totaling $343,000. This assistance is being channeled through the British
Red Cross to support rescue operations and shelter construction.


U.S. Government (USG) Assistance

USAID Personnel/Assessment Team

- On June 24, a four-person USAID/OFDA assessment team arrived in Lima and
then traveled to Tacna with U.S.  Embassy and USAID/Lima personnel on June
25.  A representative from PAHO accompanied the team.  The team has since
been augmented by three additional USAID/OFDA members.

- On June 25, the assessment team, working in cooperation with INDECI and
the local authorities, established its base in Tacna and received the
first USAID/OFDA airlift of relief supplies.

- On June 26, the team conducted needs assessments in the affected
communities of Tacna and Moquegua departments, and oversaw the
disbursement of the first airlift of relief supplies to the affected
population.

- On June 27, a USAID/OFDA assessment team member was deployed in the town
of Arequipa to provide additional coordination and damage and needs
assessments in cooperation with INDECI.

- On June 28, the team based in Tacna, working in cooperation with INDECI,
received the second USAID/OFDA airlift of relief supplies.

- On June 28, the Arequipa-based USAID/OFDA team member traveled to the
province of Camara with a team including INDECI personnel and local
firefighters to conduct damage and needs assessments.


USAID/OFDA Assistance

- On June 24, U.S. Ambassador to Peru John Hamilton issued a disaster
declaration due to the earthquake. In response, USAID/OFDA released
$25,000 for the local purchase of emergency relief supplies, including
building materials for the construction of temporary shelter and batteries
for emergency generation of power.

- On June 25, USAID/OFDA airlifted an initial package of relief supplies
to the affected area, including 300 rolls of plastic sheeting for use in
the construction of temporary shelter, 2,700 wool blankets, six water
bladders and 5,200 five-gallon water jugs.  All of these relief
commodities were consigned to INDECI and distributed to the affected
populations in the following towns in Moquegua and Tacna departments:
Candarave (75 rolls of plastic sheeting, 100 water jugs, one water
bladder, and 225 blankets); Quilahuani (60 rolls of plastic sheeting, 200
water jugs, and 250 blankets); Pallata (10 rolls of plastic sheeting, 50
water jugs, and 50 blankets); Talaca (15 rolls of plastic sheeting, 50
water jugs, and 75 blankets); Locumba (40 rolls of plastic sheeting, 500
water jugs, one water bladder, and 1,000 blankets);  urban Moquegua (20
rolls of plastic sheeting, 500 water jugs, and 300 blankets); and rural
Moquegua (80 rolls of plastic sheeting, 1,500 water jugs, four water
bladders, and 1,000 blankets).

- On June 28, USAID/OFDA airlifted a second package of relief supplies to
the affected area, including 800 additional rolls of plastic sheeting for
use in the construction of temporary shelter and 2,300 wool blankets.  
Each roll of plastic sheeting can provide material sufficient for the
construction of approximately six temporary shelters, each shelter capable
of housing a family of five.


Other USG Assistance

- Based upon a request received from the air police detachment commander
in Pucallpa, the U.S. Department of State's Narcotics Affairs Section of
the U.S. Embassy (STATE/INL) is providing 5,000 Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs)
with a value of approximately $25,000.

- USAID/Food for Peace (FFP) is redirecting a total of 187 MT of emergency
food aid from warehouses in Lima and Puno to affected areas in Arequipa,
Moquegua, and Tacna.  Caritas, in cooperation with PROMUDEH, INDECI, and
other local organizations, will distribute 118 MT of food aid (consisting
of bulgur, corn-soy blend, wheat flour, peas, and vegetable oil) in
Moquegua and Tacna.  ADRA, in cooperation with INDECI and other local
organizations, will distribute 27 MT of food aid (consisting of bulgur,
corn-soy blend, peas, and vegetable oil) in Arequipa.  The total value of
this assistance is estimated at $73,115.


USG Funding Summary 

USG Agency
Action
Funding

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

USAID/OFDA
1,100 rolls of plastic sheeting
 $297,000

USAID/OFDA
5,000 wool blankets
 $30,000

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

USAID/OFDA
Six water bladders
 $15,000

USAID/OFDA
Airlift of commodities
 $188,000

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

Total
USAID/OFDA Assistance 
$575,400


USAID/FFP
187 MT of emergency food aid
 $73,115

Total
USAID Assistance 
$648,515

STATE/INL
5,000 Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs)
$25,000

Total
USG Assistance for June 23 Earthquake
$673,515



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.

- 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/. For a list of NGOs active in the relief effort
in Peru, please refer to InterAction's website at
http://www.interaction.org/peru/index.html.

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


distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International Disaster Information
Volunteers in Technical Assistance
                                          web: www.cidi.org
                                     listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Peru: Earthquake                             www.cidi.org/disaster/peru