Appeal Target: US$ 1,607,212
Balance Requested: US$ 1,447,022
Geneva, 15 March 2010
An earthquake of magnitude 8.8 on the Richter scale hit Chile on February 27 at 3:34am (1:34am EST). The epicentre was 70 miles northeast of Concepcion, one of Chile's largest cities with around 670,000 inhabitants. The quake triggered a tsunami that rolled across the Pacific and caused additional damage. This earthquake was 1,000 times stronger than Haiti, and is the major earthquake in Latin America of the last 50 years. On 12 March 2010, the government reported that 512 people were killed, with the death toll certain to rise as there are still a number of people reported missing. The destruction of infrastructure, including homes, hospitals and bridges is enormous. Two million homes have been damaged, and 500,000 were destroyed. President Bachelet decreed a state of emergency in the regions of Maule and Bio-Bio.
The implications for reconstruction are complex. Priority needs of first priority were water, water filters, generators, shelter, food, and personal hygiene items. In a recovery phase the needs will be construction of houses and public infrastructure, repair of the economy including income generation for the most affected population.
Local ACT member FASIC (Fundacion de Ayuda Social de las Iglesias Cristianas - Foundation of Social Aid of Christian Churches) and has, together with other local partners, established the Inter-Church Emergency Committee Chile 2010 with the principal goal of providing immediate care and coordinating national and international support on behalf of people affected by the earthquake. Church World Service (CWS) had established cooperation with FASIC and the Methodist Church of Chile (IMECH) in the area of emergency management training and resettlement of refugees in Chile before the earthquake. A team comprising staff of IMECH, FASIC, Lutheran Evangelical Churches of Chile, CLAI - Chile, the Apostolic Church of Chile, Popular Education in Health (EPES) and the Evangelical Development Service (SEPADE) has carried out an assessment on March 4 to 7 for a specific response by ACT members and their partners.
In line with the assessment, the Inter-Church Committee ordered on March 10 the first shipment to Concepción. The shipment includes items according to standards set by ONEMI to match the immediate necessities of the region: food, items for personal hygiene and water for 300 families. At present, the Committee is preparing shipments for 500 families in the Maule and Bío-Bío regions. These second shipments are scheduled to arrive between March 12 and 15.
FASIC proposes, as immediate support, to provide 1,500 families in Concepcion, Talca and Curico with food, non-food items, temporary shelter and training in water, sanitation and hygiene matter. To support recovery of the population, FASIC intends to provide cash for work, small income generating activities, repair and rebuilding of houses, capacity building, advocacy, training in risk management, and psychosocial assistance, to the same group of affected people.