United Nations emergency team deployed to Peru

(New York: 17 August): A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team was deployed to Peru today, following yesterday's 7.9 magnitude earthquake that has so far destroyed more than 16,000 homes in the hardest hit cities of Cañete, Chincha and Pisco in the southern Ica Region.

The UNDAC team will carry out rapid assessments of priority needs, in support of national authorities and the United Nations country team, and will also coordinate international relief efforts. National and local authorities said four hospitals were destroyed in the quake and several buildings were damaged, including four more hospitals, two hotels, two schools and four churches. Ten roads were also affected.

As of today, officials are reporting as many as 510 deaths and between 1,000 and 1,500 wounded. Those seriously injured were evacuated to the capital, Lima.

"The next few days will reveal the true extent of damage, which is likely to be more serious than it seems now," said Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. "The United Nations is there to help local officials to provide a coordinated response."

The Government of Peru has requested relief items - including shelter items and medicines - after declaring a state of emergency in the Department of Ica. There is also a need for shovels, picks and carts to clear debris. Neighbouring countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, have promised medicine, tents, blankets, construction materials and other forms of humanitarian aid.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Peru has activated an Emergency Operations Centre on a 24 hour basis. Several aid agencies have received requests for assistance and responses to those requests are being coordinated by the United Nations Disaster Management Team. At the same time, the United Nations Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) is closely following any possible request for assistance from the Government.

To date, UNICEF has released $200,000 in emergency funds, and will be distributing water-purification tablets, water containers, oral rehydration salts and water tanks with a 10,000-liter capacity. The World Food Programme has announced distribution of relief food amounting to $500,000, which will be distributed through the National Food Assistance Programme. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have provided a cash grant of $200,000.

The United Nations also stands ready to contribute up to $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Dizery Salim, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570.