Peru appeals for assistance after intense cold and snowstorms

(New York: 19 July 2004) - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) made an emergency grant of US$ 25,000 to the Government of Peru, following that country's request for international assistance. To alleviate suffering brought on by Peru's recent snowstorms and intense cold weather, OCHA also offered a second grant of US$ 25,000 from prepositioned Danish funds.
Other agencies have also heeded Peru's call. Following a field assessment mission, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it was ready to mobilize US$ 200,000 in support of the affected population. In addition, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided 2,000 blankets and articles of warm clothing for children under the age of one, and 500 articles of heavy clothes to its office in Apurimac. It has also pre-positioned 2,500 medical treatments kits for pneumonia in Lima, which could be used in case the situation worsens in the coming days. For its part, the Peruvian Government has provided food, blankets, plastic rolls, tents and clothing for the affected areas.

The Peruvian Government has now officially declared a State of Emergency in eight departments, and the number of provinces affected by the severe cold and snowstorms has risen from 41 to 44. The number of people affected has increased from 85,000 to 158,836, 3,082 houses have been destroyed, and agriculture has been severely affected

Access to the affected areas continues to be difficult due to precarious road conditions and the high altitude. Officials are thus worried about possible lacks of information and underestimation of the weather's impact.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA NY, 917 367 5126, mobile 917 892 1679; Madelaine Moulin-Acevedo, OCHA Geneva, 41 22 917 3160.