EMERGENCY IN PERU AND BOLIVIA
August 19, 2002
It's winter in the southern hemisphere, and parts of Peru and Bolivia are buried under as much as three feet of snow, creating an emergency to which Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is responding with its local partners. (See yellow bar at left for the story of Apolonia, a 12-year old girl who lives in Bolivia.)
Snow and temperatures as low as -5 degrees Fahrenheit have killed more than 60 people as well as cattle and other livestock. (More than 50,000 llamas and alpacas have died in Bolivia; see photos). More than 20,000 adobe houses with straw roofs have collapsed or been badly damaged in Peru alone. The primary source of heat, stored firewood, is now damp from the snow. Crops and pastures have been destroyed. Most people who live in the zones of the worst weather are poor farmers and their families who depend on income from livestock.
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| A herd of Alpaca in a snow-covered pasture that is normally their primary food source. |
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The extreme weather has already caused severe illness or death in over 600 people, mostly elderly and children. Freezing temperatures have led to the loss of crops and up to 50 percent of the livestock that poor farmers and their families depend on for income. More than 98,000 people have been affected by the severe weather in Peru and Bolivia.
The government of Peru, which declared a 30-day emergency in eight departments (similar to U.S. states) in a remote area of the southern Andes, has airlifted some supplies and sought humanitarian assistance. The government of Bolivia said it has no resources to respond to the current situation.
The floods in southern Asia have already destroyed thousands of homes, livestock, acres of crops, and miles of roads. ACT, the interchurch emergency alliance that includes LWR, is responding to the needs of more than 12,600 families (or approx. 63,000 people) in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
LWR's Andean Regional Office is responding to the immediate and long-term needs of a total of 675 families (more than 3,000 people) through two of its partners, the Specialized Development Association (AEDES) in Peru and the Program for the Self-Development of Social Initiatives (PAIS) in Bolivia. Both partners have years of experience in development and emergency response and are located in the affected zones of Peru and Bolivia.
In Peru, AEDES will distribute food rations to 400 families and seeds for the re-planting of 200 hectares of crops and animal fodder. In Bolivia, PAIS will distribute quinoa seeds (a high protein grain) for 275 families and will construct four greenhouses to help protect young crops. PAIS will also provide veterinary attention for more than 23,000 animals to reduce the rate of mortality. Training will be provided to promote more effective long-term management of food production and animal husbandry. The emergency response and prevention project will be from August 2002 to November 2002.
Lutheran World Relief urges all people to pray for the safety of all whose lives are affected by the unusually severe weather in Peru and Bolivia.
When disaster strikes, in addition to prayer, the greatest immediate need is cash so that our local partners can quickly and efficiently provide needed assistance.
To contribute to a recovery effort, you may also call 1-800-LWR-LWR2, or mail a check or money order to:
Lutheran World Relief - Peru/Bolivia Crisis Recovery and Prevention
PO Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832
Please also consider making an unrestricted donation which will enable LWR to respond quickly to the next emergency.
