In response to the damage caused by harsh winter conditions experienced in high regions of the Peruvian Andes, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has allocated €127 200 to meet the most urgent needs of the families affected by low temperatures.
The EU funds will be used to provide assistance to 620 families in Ananea Quilcapuncu, Sina and Putina, districts in the San Antonio de Putina province, region of Puno.
The three-month aid will be distributed by the Peruvian Red Cross and will mainly include blankets and personal protective equipment for farmers such as UV protection sunglasses, rubber boots and waterproof ponchos.
This equipment serves to reduce cases of conjunctivitis, respiratory infections and to protect individuals against the cold and damp.
Help also includes recovery activities to reestablish livelihoods of those affected and the provision of veterinary supplies such as vaccines, vitamins, antibiotics in order to restore health of livestock and strengthen its defenses.
Financial aid is part of the EU overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
According to the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci), some 165,000 people have been affected, another 100 have lost their homes, 529 houses have been damaged, 11 have collapsed and another 11 were left uninhabitable due to cold conditions in Apurimac, Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, Junin, Pasco, Puno and Tacna.
(END) NDP/JCR/RMB
Published: 8/25/2015