Peru: Cold Wave - Jun 2007

by Javier Aguayo

The inhabitants of the district of Langui, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes, know what it is like to be really cold. At almost 4,000 metres above sea level, the mercury seldom rises above 0=B0C from May to September and can fall as low as -30=B0C.

Una de las regiones más afectadas por las heladas durante la campaña agrícola de 2007 fue la Región Ayacucho.

Patricia Weiss Fagen, Georgetown University

HPG Working Paper

1. Introduction

1.1. Latin America and the Caribbean region

Throughout its history the region that encompasses Latin America and the Caribbean - from Mexico south and to the east - has been among the most disaster prone in the world: Volcanoes, earthquakes, droughts and floods - the last, a consequence of the El Niño phenomenon and yearly cycles of major tropical storms widely believed to have been intensified by global warming.

GLIDE no. CW-2007-000090-PER

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies.

This report covers the period of 01/01/2006 to 31/12/2007 of a two-year planning and appeal process.

In brief

Programme summary:

Natural and weather related disasters are increasing in frequency. The countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean remain vulnerable to the impact of these natural and man-made disasters.

In 2006 and 2007, the Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) provided operational, logistics and preparedness support to the region's National Societies in response to 33 emergencies, in an effective and efficient manner according to the needs.

Aulas de emergencia de Oxfam Internacional contribuyen a disminuir el ausentismo escolar

Por Maribel Sánchez, Oficial de Comunicación de Oxfam Internacional en Pisco, Perú.

"Prefiero que mi hijo pierda el año escolar a perder a mi hijo" es la frase que resume el temor de los padres con respecto a la seguridad de sus hijos en las escuelas luego del terremoto del 15 de agosto. El terremoto no solo afectó casas e Iglesias sino también hizo sentir su fuerza devastadora en los colegios.

Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS)

Since the end of 2006, several natural disasters have affected food and cash crop production in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their impact on rural development and food security has been varied.

La Comisión Europea ha tomado dos decisiones en el ámbito de la ayuda humanitaria para hacer frente a las consecuencias de la ola de frío en Perú, así como a las de la sequía y los incendios forestales en Paraguay. Estas dos decisiones, por importe de un millón y medio cada una, permitirán ayudar a cerca de 60.000 personas en Perú y 40.000 personas en Paraguay, entre las más vulnerables. Administrará estos fondos el servicio de ayuda humanitaria de la Comisión (ECHO), bajo la responsabilidad del Comisario Louis Michel.

«Estos dos países padecen fenómenos climáticos recurrentes.

The European Commission has taken two decisions on the supply of humanitarian aid to combat the effects of the cold weather in Peru and the drought and forest fires in Paraguay. The two grants of EUR 1.5 million each will provide assistance for around 60 000 people in Peru and 40 000 in Paraguay, all among the most vulnerable. The funds are administered by the Commission's humanitarian aid office (ECHO), under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.

"These two countries are accustomed to extreme weather conditions.

Cruz Roja Española envía hoy por avión material de logística y socorro, kits de higiene, kits de cocina y una tienda almacén.

Cruz Roja Española ya ha enviado 5 delegados para reforzar la delegación permanente en la zona y enviará 5 más en las próximas horas.

Madrid, 20 de agosto. Un segundo avión con ayuda humanitaria saldrá esta tarde desde la Base Aérea de Torrejón a la zona del desastre con 10 toneladas de ayuda humanitaria de Cruz Roja Española, que se suman a las 31 toneladas de ayuda, que ya se enviaron el viernes.

LIMA - A C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying emergency food rations is leaving today from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) sub-regional emergency hub in Ecuador to the Peruvian coastal city of Pisco, for victims of Wednesday's massive earthquake.

With the support of IBM, Pfizer and PricewaterhouseCoopers, United Way Peru is helping hundreds of families in Peru's high country survive an unprecedented winter. Bitter snowstorms, torrential rainfalls and severe cold weather have taken the lives of 55 children, left over 6,000 people with pneumonia, damaged crops and killed livestock in since early June of 2007. Temperatures have dropped to -22=B0 and -15=B0 C in some areas of the country.

By Melissa Allemant of the International Federation in South America

It's 4:00 a.m. and Pablo Castro, a 28-year-old volunteer, drives one of the Peruvian Red Cross' (PRC) trucks to Huancasaya, an isolated community that lies almost 4,000 meters above sea level in the area of Puno.

"I had my Red Cross uniform on, a thick coat, gloves and under all of that, thermal clothing ... and I still was freezing. When we arrived in Huancasaya, we could see the children outside with sandals and light t-shirts.

Setenta niños menores de cinco años han muerto en Perú debido a enfermedades respiratorias

CIUDAD DE PANAMA. (1 de agosto de 2007) - Fuertes inundaciones en Colombia y una severa ola de frío en Perú han dejado a cerca de 100,000 personas pobres en necesidad de asistencia alimentaria de emergencia, informó hoy el Programa Mundial de Alimentos (PMA) de las Naciones Unidas.

PANAMA CITY - Severe weather in Latin America - floods in Colombia and a deadly cold snap in Peru -has left nearly 100,000 of some of the continent's poorest people in need of emergency food assistance, the United Nations World Food Programme said today.

The worst flooding in decades following an unusually intense rainy season in Colombia has claimed at least 57 lives, with 100 people missing and 443,000 left homeless, their crops and animals washed away.

The extremely low temperatures in the Andes over the last few weeks have affected hundreds of families in the Peruvian high plateau and have exposed many children to cold related diseases. SOS Children's Villages has taken emergency action to support those at most at risk.

According to the local press, over 50 children have died due to the unusually cold weather in various parts of Peru. The high plateau provinces of Puno, Apurimac, and Cuzco are among the most affected.

A sudden warm spell has provided unexpected relief for the thousands of children suffering in the Peruvian Andes.

As temperatures stepped away from the record lows of only a few days ago, the improvement in the weather has offered a welcome respite from the freezing temperatures.

"We will take full advantage of this window of opportunity. Our staff have also been affected by the extreme temperatures, but this has given them a great lift.

INFORME DE EMERGENCIA N. 267 271/07/2007/ COEN-SINADECI/18:00 HORAS (INFORME N.17)

I. HECHOS

Desde el mes de mayo 2007, se han registrado bajas temperaturas afectando a la población de 10 departamentos del sur del país (Puno, Tacna, Arequipa, Moquegua, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, Junín y Pasco). (Gráfico 01).

Con motivo de la intensa ola de frío que afecta a las comunidades altoandinas de la Rep=FAblica del Perú, con secuelas tales como el fallecimiento de 61 niños menores de 5 años y más de mil casos de neumonía, la Embajada peruana en Buenos Aires ha solicitado a nuestra Cancillería el envío de ayuda humanitaria a través de la Comisión Cascos Blancos. La ayuda, que se hará efectiva el 27 de julio, consistirá en el envío por via aérea de un cargamento de mil frazadas, de aproximadamente 2 toneladas, que será entregado por la Embajada argentina en Lima.

N =B0 094 2007-INDECI-UII

Lima, 25 de Julio de 2007. Con la finalidad de apoyar a las familias afectadas por las bajas temperaturas en diversas regiones del país, ESSALUD entregó un lote de ayuda al INDECI consistente en 4.5 toneladas.

Las donaciones recolectadas entre los asegurados, trabajadores y sindicatos de esa institución consiste en ropa, calzado, frazadas y alimentos no perecibles.

En el acto de entrega estuvo presente el Jefe del INDECI, General Luis Palomino Rodriguez y el Presidente Ejecutivo de ESSALUD, Ingeniero Fernando Barrios Ipenza.