OCHA Report No. 6:
SITUATION
1. During the past days heavy rains have intensified the incidence of flooding and landslides in the northern, central and southern parts of Peru. Furthermore, several roads and bridges have been seriously destroyed, leaving large cities such as Tumbes, Piura, Talara Chiclayo, Trujillo and Chimbote and hundreds of small villages isolated all over the country. In the past week, the most seriously affected areas have been the departments of Tumbes, Ancash, Lambayeque and La Libertad.
2. In the Department of Tumbes, the rivers of Tumbes and Zarumilla broke their banks due to heavy rains, affecting in particular the cities of Aguas Verdes and Tumbes. In just one day the city of Tumbes received 220 millimetres, which is unusual, as the city normally receives 20 millimetres per year. With water levels up to 2.5 meters in the streets, people were taking refuge on the roofs of their houses. According to the press, 80% of the city was flooded. In Aguas Verdes the water level in the streets reached 1.5 meters affecting 1,500 families. In both cities thousands of people had to be evacuated and many lost everything they had.
3. According to latest estimates, approximately 78,000 people have been affected, of which some 61,000 in the Departments of Tumbes and La Libertad. So far, some 200 people have died or are missing.
HOUSING/ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE/AGRICULTURE
4. Some 13,000 houses have been damaged or completely destroyed, of which 10,000 in the Departments of La Libertad, Ancash and Lambayeque. The road and bridge infrastructure has also been seriously affected, in particular in the Departments of Ancash and Lambayeque Some 240 hectares of farmland (corn and potatoes) have been destroyed in the Department of Ancash.
HEALTH
5. Diseases are reportedly beginning to emerge due to high temperatures and humidity. A significant number of cases of malaria has been identified, in particular in the Departments of Tumbes and Piura. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO is assisting the Government in combating the epidemics through the provision of technical support, medicines and water containers.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
6. Due to the interrupted roads and destroyed bridges, the Government has established air bridges between Piura-Tumbes, Piura-Talara and other isolated areas, transporting people and distributing relief supplies (clothes, tents, roofing material, blankets, mattresses, medicine, water and food) to those affected. Furthermore, heavy equipment has been provided for rehabilitation of roads and bridges, and temporary houses are being constructed in the affected areas. Finally, the government continues to strengthen mitigation measures such as improvements of river bed and reconstruction of dikes." --OCHA Geneva <info@dha.unicc.org>, contributed by C. W. Gilbert <blazing@igc.apc.org>