|
Relief Work Continues in Quake-Ravaged Peru
Written by Andrea Munzer, American Red Cross International Disaster Relief Worker
CAMANA, Peru, July 2, 2001 —
It took only minutes on Saturday June 23rd for a powerful 8.1 earthquake to rip through southern Peru, killing at least 102 people and leaving mass destruction and devastation in its wake. More than 90,000 families were affected, and the newly homeless sleep outside in the frigid winter air, where temperatures often dip below freezing.
Piles of rubble line the streets of Arequipa, the largest city in southern Peru, but the damage caused by the quake was felt to a greater extent in the remote villages surrounding Arequipa. The quake leveled entire towns, flattening the simple adobe, brick structures and leaving nothing but rubble.
Arequipa was worst hit by the magnitude-8.1 earthquake.
|
"The need has jumped significantly since the initial assessment of the quake's damage" said Douglas Allen, Director of the American Red Cross International Disaster Response Unit. "Many villages are only now being assessed because of their remote location and their inaccessibility by conventional means of transportation".
Widespread damage to roads and bridges, cold weather and the isolated location of many villages has made relief a challenge. Water and shelter remain the largest concerns and are top priorities for relief agencies working in the region, but they are also concerned with providing medical care. The quake damaged hospitals leaving patients no where to go for medical attention.
The powerful shock of the earthquake was not the only disaster to cause damage in Southern Peru. The quake formed a major tsunami, which slammed into the coast 15 minutes after the initial tremors were felt. The wave, estimated at 30 meters, high swept into the town of Camana, reaching as far as 1,000 meters inland and leaving a path of devastation in its wake.
The tsunami completely destroyed homes and crops throughout the town. Metal doors were bent in half from the sheer power of the water. The townspeople still reel from the shock of the disaster. Looking for help, they wandered among relief workers, confused and disoriented, with tears in their eyes and nothing left but the clothes on their backs. Lines formed outside medical tents of children and elderly suffering from severe respiratory infections.
"Many people have breathing problems from dust in the air and the cold temperatures at night and we do not have enough medicine for them. There are also concerns about fresh water. We don't know if the water is potable, but we have nothing else to drink," said one local doctor.
During the ebb of the initial tide that forms the monstrous wave, the water retreated far back from the coast, leaving a wide swath of seafloor exposed. Villagers ran out into the sea to pick up dozens of fish left behind by the powerful recession of the water. But then the tsunami rushed in, overcoming the villagers. As many as 60 people are presumed dead .
"All we heard were screams and then we saw people running, but many could not outrun the wave," described one local.
The first rush of water was followed by two smaller waves, decimating more homes. Salt water settled into the soil, ruining crops and the planting seasons for many years to come.
"I have lost everything, and I don't have anything left" said a local villager. She and her two young children had not eaten in four days. " I don't know what to do".
The American Red Cross deployed 77,000 tons of relief supplies from the United States to dispatch to the affected areas in Peru. The shipment, which arrived last week, includes 5,100 blankets, 250 rolls of plastic sheeting and 263 tents with 495 additional tents en route. The supplies will be able to shelter over 10,000 people for several months.
More than 50 local Peruvian Red Cross volunteers dedicated their services to ensure a rapid distribution of the supplies. They unloaded supplies late into the night under freezing conditions. Nobody complained, they knew thousands more were also outside in the frigid night air, and would be for many more nights to come.
Related information:
- Earthquake in Peru (a collection of articles and press releases about the earthquake and the Red Cross response)
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross also supplies nearly half of the nation's lifesaving blood. This, too, is made possible by generous voluntary donations. You can help those affected by this crisis and countless others 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. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about upcoming blood drives.
|
