Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Update - Peru - Snow Storms
1/2002
Assistance to Victims of Snowstorms & Intense Cold- LAPE-21
Geneva, 5 November 2002


In July, temperatures in the southern Andean region of Peru and the
southern high plains of Bolivia dropped below normal temperatures to -20
°C and colder.  This severe weather was the result of atmospheric
disturbances from the Antarctic which caused freezing temperatures
followed by intense snow-, hail- and rainstorms accompanied by strong
winds.  The accumulation of snow reached above one meter in many areas.
These extreme conditions caused the death of over 60 people, loss of crops
and pastures, severe damage and destruction of houses and the death of
livestock.

The zones affected by this extreme weather are located between 3,500 and
5,000 meters above sea level.  The population in these zones comprises
mostly poor farmers who are financially dependent on their livestock since
the altitude of the zones limits their crop production to subsistence.

An ACT appeal was issued on 2 August 2002 to respond to this emergency and
included proposals from Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and PREDES.  The
implementation of the activities is in process, however, due to the delay
in the arrival of funds it is foreseen that they will not be finished
within the original timeframe of the appeal. Therefore, Lutheran World
Relief (LWR) and PREDES have requested an extension of the date of
completion of the appeal from 31 December 2002 to 28 February 2003. The
ACT CO has agreed with this extension.

Thank you for your attention.

For further information please contact:

ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone
++ 41 79 203 6055)
or
ACT Appeals Officer, Elsa Moreno (phone +41 22 791 6420 or mobile phone
++ 41 796088133)


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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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   Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
   150, route de Ferney                         Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06
   P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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Volunteers in Technical Assistance
                                          web: www.cidi.org
                                     listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
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