22 August 2007: A powerful earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.9 degrees on the Richter scale, struck Peru on the early evening of Wednesday 15 August 2007, devastating hospitals, schools, churches and government buildings in the city of Pisco, and seriously affecting the cities of Chincha, Ica and Canete on the Peruvian Pacific coast.
National authorities estimate that at least 85% of housing in Pisco has been damaged; electricity and water services have been interrupted and people are facing food shortages. In the province of Ica, 60% of houses in poor areas have been destroyed and access to water and electricity are being restored at a slow pace. In Chincha, there are serious limitations in the services of electricity and water as well as extensive damage to housing. The latest estimates indicate that around 35,000 families require life-saving assistance.
Click here to download ReliefWeb Peru earthquake Situation Map as of 18 August 2007.
In the regions hit by the quake, it is estimated that up to 80% to 85% of the population has been affected by the disaster. The state of emergency in the Department of Ica and the province of Canete in the Department of Lima is still in effect, and the emergency has been extended to the provinces of Castrovirreina and Huaytará and the district of Acobambilla. Chincha, Canete, Pisco and Ica are still experiencing electricity and water shortages, and health facilities are still insufficient to meet current demand.
![Citizens of Pisco look for their belongings amid the rubble of their homes after a devastating earthquake struck the south coast of Peru on 15 August 2007 [Photo: WFP/Solimano]](/Portals/11/Images_country/PER_Quake_WFP.jpg) |
| Citizens of Pisco look for their belongings amid the rubble of their homes after a devastating earthquake struck the south coast of Peru on 15 August 2007 [Photo: WFP/Solimano] |
With the CERF grant of USD 9.6 million, the UN country team in Peru will provide immediate life-saving interventions in the following sectors: Shelter and camp management, food assistance, health, water and sanitation, education, information and telecommunication, temporary employment, safety and security, coordination and early recovery. The humanitarian assistance included in this request will benefit the affected population of the Ica Region.
Priorities have been established through field assessments and in close consultation with concerned national ministries, international NGO and donors. Interagency teams have been sent to the affected region of Ica in order to collect data and information concerning humanitarian needs and priorities of the ongoing response. In each sector, international NGO and the International Federation of the Red Cross have been integrated in order to avoid overlapping and to adequately define priorities.
With the CERF grant, IOM will establish and assist the Government to manage temporary camps for vulnerable persons of the earthquake affected areas and assist local populations in three main camps located in Chincha, Pisco and Ica, during the next six months.
UNDP will initiate and support activities towards rehabilitation of key access infrastructure through the generation of emergency employment as well as coordinate the UN response and humanitarian action addressed to families and areas affected by the earthquake.
While WFP will provide emergency food assistance to earthquake affected populations, UNICEF will establish emergency water and sanitation facilities.
UNFPA will support and reinvigorate the capacity of the local primary health services to provide reproductive health services while WHO will play a key part in restoring health services to prevent and monitor the outbreak of diseases, including an Early Warning System and other coordination and technical support to public health services.
UNESCO will support educational activities for 10,000 students during the post-earthquake emergency period while FAO will provide emergency agricultural support in the earthquake-affected areas.
[Last Update: 30 August 2007]
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