Health, an Essential Element Now and Beyond 2015

A disaster, above all, relates to people as it affects their state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. Destruction, even if it is sud- den and massive, is not a disaster unless there are repercussions for the population. In this context, health services are essential 24/7, for all women and men, anywhere in the world.

Key messages

• The Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department, ECHO, has supported South America for the last two decades, providing funds to assist the people most affected by disasters in the region: earthquakes, floods, landslides, droughts, cold waves, volcanic eruptions and epidemics.

DREF operation n° MDRPE005 GLIDE n° FL-2011-000198-PER Update n°2 – 14 September 2012

Period covered by this update: 10 July to 16 August, 2012.

Summary: 255,940 Swiss francs have been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Peruvian Red Cross (PRC) in delivering immediate assistance to 800 families (some 4,000 beneficiaries).

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be affected by flood related events in this reporting period. Floods in 11 countries affected more than 1.7 million people and killed 171. Brazil, Colombia and Peru had the highest number of affected people.

Authorities in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico activated contingency plans and intensified monitoring of volcanic activity in their countries.

Low temperatures affected Corrientes Province in Argentina and the Andean highlands in Peru. Local authorities are assisting affected people.

La OIM ha distribuido sets de higiene, cocina y refugio entre 1.100 familias afectadas por las recientes inundaciones en la región amazónica de Loreto (Perú nororiental). “Es fundamental llegar a las comunidades más vulnerables. Estas familias han estado alojadas en tiendas de campaña, sin electricidad ni agua, y expuestas a la diarrea y a las infecciones del tracto respiratorio superior. Gracias a esta ayuda de emergencia podrán reconstruir sus hogares y volver a la normalidad”, asevera César Estrella, coordinador del programa de la OIM en Perú.

Summary: 255,940 Swiss francs have been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Peruvian Red Cross (PRC) in delivering immediate assistance to 800 families (some 4,000 beneficiaries).

HECHOS:

El 24 de junio de 2012, a las 03:00 horas, se produjo un deslizamiento de cerro, afectando el sistema de agua potable, áreas agrícolas y viviendas de la localidad de Ojoyhua, distrito de Ocros. Asimismo, el 25 de Junio del 2012, a las 11:00 horas aproximadamente, se produjo un segundo deslizamiento en el mismo lugar de la localidad Ojoyhua, distrito de Ocros.

HECHOS:

El día jueves 07 de junio de 2012, a las 05:00 horas aproximadamente, se produjo el desborde de río Agua Salada a consecuencia de precipitaciones pluviales, afectando el Centro Poblado de Nailan de Sonomoro, distrito de San Martin de Pangoa, Provincia de Satipo, Región Junín.

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

Production of 2012 rice and maize crops anticipated above average

Cereal imports in 2012 (January/December) remain steady

Cereal prices, mainly of rice, declining in recent months

Heavy rains affected over 800 000 people

Favourable prospects for 2012 rice and maize production