Canadian humanitarian assistance provides a reprieve for Peruvians affected by earthquake

Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), was one of the first countries to deliver humanitarian assistance, including water, food, and temporary shelter, to thousands of Peruvians most in need after the August 15, 2007, earthquake that devastated many communities on Peru's southern coast. Rated at 7.9, the earthquake lasted for more than three minutes, killing 519 people and destroying 50,000 homes.

As part of Canada's $2 million in emergency assistance, CIDA is helping to build temporary shelters for 300 families and providing construction materials for 80 more families in the rural communities of El Olivo and El Carmen, located in the San Juan de Bautista district of Ica province. In all, more than 20,000 Peruvians are receiving assistance from Canada to help rebuild their lives.

Rosa Legua, 37, who recently moved into a shelter made of woven straw panels and a plastic tarpaulin, says she is grateful for the support Canada has given to her family. The shelter is large enough for her and her three children and husband to sleep in and to take refuge from the sun and heat in this desert area. It will be their home for the next few months until more permanent housing is provided by the Peruvian government and issues around land titles are settled, which will permit families with the legal authority to build legitimate and secure housing.

"I'm happy that we can have a small, sturdy shelter, but it will take us a long time before we feel settled again as a family,'' says Rosa. ''My biggest concern is for my children and that they feel secure after having gone through such a big trauma as the earthquake."

A safe haven for children

Another CIDA-funded project is providing children with books, safe, and comfortable places to read, and giving them access to other recreation activities to help them play through their stress and fear of more earthquakes. The Centro de Documentación e Información de Literatura Infantil (CEDILI) (center for documentation and information on children's literature) based in Lima, is equipping 10 locations with books, games, and other resource materials in secure buildings, including municipal offices and church meeting halls, in the earthquake-affected zones of Chincha and Ica. CEDILI President Nora Ravines says, "At the outset, we estimate 2,000 children, from ages 3 to 12, will benefit from this initiative. With the support of local community groups, we hope to replicate these programs and activities once we identify other secure locations for children to be in."

Supporting local solutions

Overall, more than 430,000 people were affected by the quake. CIDA, along with other members of the donor community and non-governmental organizations, has been working to support the Peruvian government's response to the earthquake disaster. Almost 12,000 tonnes of medicines, temporary shelters, cleaning equipment, machinery, tools, clothing, food, and cooking supplies have been delivered to those affected by the disaster.

CIDA's field office in Lima is working with many local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure the timeliest and most appropriate delivery of aid, particularly for the poorest of the poor, single mothers, seniors, and children. CIDA's collaboration with Peruvian NGOs, such as El Centro de Estudios y Prevencion de Desastres (PREDES) (center for research and prevention of disasters), is key to connecting available financial support with appropriate local knowledge and skills. CIDA and PREDES are working with municipal authorities and residents to help guide them in helping to prevent and prepare for future disasters by forming a new district civil defence committee.

Local residents are being galvanized in the wake of the disaster to do what they can to help their community. A dozen women have formed their own support group called Ciudadnos de El Olivo to help fellow mothers and children in their community. "Our community is very humble, but we have a big heart and we want to help each other as much as possible," says Ms. Esperanza Ochoa Ocho, one of the founding members.

Other projects funded by CIDA are providing clean drinking water and sanitation services for more than 5,865 people and rebuilding 15 classrooms in Chincha Baja.

CIDA is now working with government, international, and local partners on medium-term and long-term reconstruction plans.