Flooding affects thousands in Peru and Bolivia

Days of heavy rain have triggered flash floods and landslides across southern Peru and more rain is expected. According to the Emergency Regional Operations Centre there are 27,781 affected families, 7,353 affected homes and 4,674 homes that have been totally destroyed. The flooding and landslides have so far caused the death of at least 20 people with five confirmed missing. Peruvian authorities have declared a state of emergency and commanded rescue brigades to evacuate on first priority children, the elderly and the ill regardless of their nationality.

Because of the extensive damage to croplands that provide families’ livelihood, it is expected that families will face food insecurity in the coming weeks and months.

The National Institute of Civil Defense (INADECI in Spanish) is the leading authority commanding the governmental response, which includes airlifting people trapped by the floods, setting up camps to provide blankets, food and water to evacuees, unblocking main roads and removing debris.

The president of the regional government – Mr. Hugo Gonzalez Sayan – has called for more humanitarian aid and formal education and training of rescue brigades and humanitarian workers on the prevention of disasters.

Plan is helping children and families

Plan is a member of the Regional Emergency Operation Committee (COER in Spanish) and is collaborating with other responding agencies to provide aid to children and families. We are focusing on the most affected families in 320 communities that remain isolated because of the floods.

Plan’s response includes:

• Distributing emergency aid, including the recent delivery of 500 shelter kits with plastic to cover the tents
• Providing warm clothing for children from 0 to 12 years old in the zones of Huacarpay and Zurite
• Supporting mobile health brigades and psychologists with food and supplies
• Distributing food, cooking kits and water cans
• Planning for psychosocial centers in the shelters
• Coordinating the installation of drinking water tanks in Huacarpay and Zurite
• Providing families with tents and hygiene kits
• Focusing on the unique needs of children, including distribution of children’s clothing and baby hygiene kits, organizing support activities for children and addressing child protection concerns
• Ensuring the maintenance and replenishment of oxygen and nebulizer tanks at 31 health center

Like its northern neighbor Peru, parts of Bolivia are experiencing extreme weather conditions that threaten the livelihood of it’s local communities.  The flooding and landslides have caused at least 120 families to be completely homeless. News agencies estimate that up to 24,000 people have been affected in some way by the disaster.

Plan Bolivia is preparing kits containing hygienic supplies, powdered milk, thermoses and blankets to hand out, as well as bringing toys to provide the children in the camps with some stimulation and entertainment. Children are thought to make up at least 40 percent of the population affected by the flooding.

Donate today to help provide immediate relief to children and families affected by disasters.

Information for sponsors

We will contact sponsors directly if we receive any news about individual sponsored children. If you are planning a visit or have any questions, please contact our Donor Relations staff at 1-800-556-7918