Statement from Oxfam's Peru Earthquake Response Coordinator
16 August 2007
Although Wednesday’s earthquake in Peru was felt all over the country, even causing panic in Lima, the worst-hit region is located some 180 kilometers (111 miles) south of the capital. 800,000 people live in this southern region where there are three medium-sized cities: Chincha, located on the Pacific Coast 190 km (128 miles) south of Lima; the city of Pisco, 230 km (168 miles) south of Lima and slightly farther inland; and Ica, the third largest city in the region, located 300 miles southeast of the capital and 70 km (43 miles) inland from the coast.
Reaching the affected zone from Lima has proved extremely challenging because the earthquake caused a key bridge just north of Chincha on the Pan American Highway to collapse and nearly cutting off all access to the region. There are currently 2,000 vehicles on both sides of the collapsed bridge that are unable to pass. As a result, it has been very difficult to both evacuate the wounded and provide them with emergency assistance. The Peruvian army is currently looking for a quick, temporary solution that will allow increased and immediate access to the area.
At 3 am on Thursday, an Oxfam International staff member traveled to the region (on a flight organized by the Peruvian army and Institute of Civil Defense) in order to assess the humanitarian needs. He is currently in the worst hit zone and despite telephone communication difficulties, has managed to report back with first-hand information from Pisco, where he has found that 50% of the city’s houses have been damaged or destroyed. Most of these houses are made of mud and adobe; the city’s more modern brick structures incurred little damage. The city of Ica, which is located closer to the coast, was, for the most part, not directly affected by the earthquake as the epicenter was further inland. Nevertheless, the earthquake caused the roof of a church to collapse during mass, resulting in 40 deaths. Rescue workers are continuing to search for survivors who might be trapped under the debris.
Oxfam International will soon decide how it will add to the emergency response that is being led by the Peruvian government, including the Ministry of Health and the Institute of Civil Defense. Oxfam will most likely provide potable water both in the cities and the rural towns and villages hit by the earthquake (we know that government, faced with so many demands and enormous needs, will face capacity limitations). Another area of concern for Oxfam International, as we’ve learned from previous experiences in the country, is the rural population. When human resources and assistance is scarce or overstretched, urban-dwellers receive the most help because they have easy access to media attention and better chances of filing public complaints if they don’t receive the assistance they need. Therefore, more remote areas hit by this earthquake will be less likely to receive adequate help. Oxfam International will therefore prioritize assisting people living in these rural areas.
Francisco Boeren is the Deputy Director of Oxfam America's South America Regional Office.
