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Responding to Quake-Affected Children in Peru
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Westport, Conn. (August 18, 2007) — Save the Children will be distributing life-saving blankets, cold-climate tents and kitchen equipment to endangered families made homeless by the Peru earthquake.
The aid flight will leave Brindisi in Italy tomorrow evening, and will arrive in the early hours of Monday morning in Pisco, one of the worst affected cities.
Save the Children aid workers will be ready on the ground to distribute 1,000 blankets, 500 sets of essential cooking equipment and 60 large tents designed to give warmth and protection against cold weather.
"It's a race against time to get shelter and blankets to children who desperately need protection against cold night temperatures," says Richard Harthill, Save the Children's Program Director in South America. "Huddled on the streets at night with no food or clothing to keep themselves warm, children are in danger of contracting pneumonia and other potentially fatal respiratory diseases. It's urgent we get these supplies to families before the crisis worsens even further."
Save the Children estimates that there are 150,000 people living homeless and cold out on the streets in the Pisco area. However with roads blocked and communication lines down, these numbers are expected to rise.
Save the Children is responding with Irish Aid and the Italian government, who have funded the emergency supplies, and World Food Programme who is providing the flight.
Related Story: Peruvian photographer Mario Testino launches Save the Children global appeal.
Read more about Save the Children's emergency response work around the world
