Bonn/Lima, 24.07.2007. Deutsche Welthungerhilfe (German Agro Action) is releasing 50,000 euros for the victims of the devastating cold snap in the Andean regions of Peru. The money will provide warm clothing, medicine, food and blankets for around 6,000 people within the week. South America is experiencing unusually low temperatures, even for the winter season in the southern hemisphere. The result is snowfall -exceptional for this time of year - of up to 50cm.
"The people here are resilient. They even wear sandals in winter," explains Jeanette Weller, Welthungerhilfe's Regional Director in Lima. "But they can't cope with temperatures like this."
Experts forecast the next cold snap in August and it's expected to be worse. The most badly affected parts of the country are those regions of the Andes above 3,500 meters where three million people have their homes. Due to the heavy snowfall, some villages are only accessible by air, impeding the distribution of supplies. As a result Peru has declared a state of emergency for half of its regions.
Healthcare is unable to cope with the situation
According to information provided by the Peruvian Ministry of Health there have been 167 mortalities since mid-June, many of them children. Healthcare in these regions is unable to cope with the situation and many people are not being treated in time.
The country was already hampered by unusually low temperatures in January and February. 60% of its farming produce was devastated in the process. There is now a danger of crop shortfall.
The 50,000 euros come from the funds of the German Foreign Office.