Situation

1. At 11:40:58 PM UTC/GMT (Greenwich time) 6:34:56 PM local time on August 15th, an earthquake measuring 7.9 degrees in the Richter scale struck the Department of Ica. The epicentre was 25 miles (61kilometres) west-northwest of Chincha Alta, Peru, and 90 miles (161 kilometres) south-southeast of Lima, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicentre was 30.2 km depth (18.8 miles). The effects were also strongly felt in Lima capital.

2. The last official report issued by the National Institute of Civil Defence (INDECI) informed about the situation up to August 28th, 23:00 hrs:

- 519 dead

- 1,366 wounded

- 58,581 houses destroyed according to Peruvian Government preliminary assessments.

- 13,585 houses affected.

- 103 hospitals affected.

- 14 hospitals destroyed according to Peruvian Government preliminary assessments.

National Response

On September 21st the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) organized a donor meeting to inform about the framework of reconstruction and recovery interventions in earthquake-affected areas. With the participation of representatives from multilateral organizations, the UN system and the President of the Cabinet, Mr. Jorge del Castillo, the participants reaffirmed the commitment to support the reconstruction phase and to coordinate with the FORSUR for the improvement of relief efforts in the areas of Food Security, Education and Health.

On September 22nd Minister of Employment informed that 10,400 people affected by the earthquake have been hired by the Cash-for-Work Program Construyendo Perú (Building Peru) to carry out reconstruction works in their own cities in the Ica, Huancavelica and Lima regions. The Minister said that 4,000,000 Soles have been invested (US $ 1,500,000) to fund 138 projects for

the removal of debris in the provinces of Pisco, Ica, Chincha, Castrovirreyna, Huaytará and Cañete. The Minister remarked that employed workers receive a salary of 14 Soles (US $ 5) per day, which should be sufficient to meet daily basic needs.

The Minister of Employment also informed on September 22nd to have approached UNDP to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to fund 14 different projects within the Construyendo Perú Programme.

The Minister of Employment remarked the commitment to train about 2,000 poor young workers on different capacities related to the reconstruction of earthquake affected areas. Vocational training will be provided on masonry, electric and sanitary installations as well as carpentry.

On September 24th the Ministry of Health approved the Health Rehabilitation Comprehensive Plan (HRCP) to be implemented in earthquake-affected regions. Supervised by the General Office of National Defense (GOND), a division of the Ministry of Health aimed at responding to health-related emergencies, the HRCP will seek to restore full health supply in the provinces affected by the emergency.