CAFOD's response to the devastating earthquake which struck Peru in August has so far reached thousands more affected families than originally planned - but ensuring the poorest benefit is a priority
CAFOD, through the Catholic Church's relief effort, has so far helped more than 55,000 families in Peru devastated by the huge earthquake of August 15 - far more than the initial planned response, but the need was overwhelming.
CAFOD partner Caritas Peru was able to act quickly, working through diocesan Caritas agencies and the network of parishes - it arrived in the affected towns of Chincha, Ica and Pisco on the south coast the day after the earthquake.
People whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed received food in emergency soup kitchens, tents, clothes, and drinking water.
Emotional needs
Caritas Peru has also tried to meet the emotional needs of individuals left bereaved and traumatised by the disaster, which killed 519 people and left ten of thousands of people homeless.
Chaplains listened to their stories and have been helping them come to terms with their personal disaster and start their lives once again.
At a recent House of Commons event, Francis McDonagh, CAFOD's programme manager for the Andes region, highlighted some of the challenges ahead.
Hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Peru and the Peru Earthquake Aid Committee (PEAC), he told the audience that a "great amount of progress has been made".
"But there has been a lack of coordination between the different actors in the relief effort, the Peruvian government, individual donors, NGOs and the different institutions of the Catholic Church in Peru.
"Also many streets are still lined with rubble. In Pisco only 30 per cent has been cleared and this is hampering the recovery efforts."
The UK's minister for Latin America, Kim Howells, and Peruvian ambassador Ricardo Luna were both at the meeting, and CAFOD has sent them the reports received from our partners working on relief and reconstruction in the earthquake area.
Solidarity
Throughout this difficult period, Peruvians' solidarity with each other has shone through - so much clothing arrived at Caritas Peru, it was unable to take everything in.
The earthquake response is now moving to a second phase, towards reconstruction. This will focus on increasing the capacity of local authorities and grass root organisations to fend for themselves.
Caritas Peru has also identified the rebuilding of classrooms as an important healing step for children following traumatic experiences such as natural disasters.
CAFOD partner CEAS (the Peruvian Church's Social Action Agency) is working with the poorest families yet to be relocated, as well as small producers who need support to enter the market.
Caritas Peru's relief effort will be gradually scaled down to work with 8,000 of the most vulnerable families.
Francis McDonagh adds: "In the medium and long term, the Peruvian state must accept its responsibility for post-earthquake reconstruction. Homes should be rebuilt better so they do not put people at risk in the future.
"A quarter of a million children are in danger of losing the school year if schools are not up and running soon.
"The knock-on effect is that parents are not able to go out and find work because they need to stay at home to look after their children."
CAFOD and its partners will continue to lobby for a co-ordinated effort, for aid to be targeted at the poorest areas like Huancavelica, and for policies that help people rebuild their lives.
CAFOD is supporting the response to this emergency through its Emergency Response Fund. Whatever you can afford really will make a difference to thousands of people.