ERD provides support after the earthquake in Peru and reaches out to those affected by Hurricane Dean

August 20, 2007

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency assistance to people in Peru after the country was rocked by a violent earthquake on Wednesday August 15.

A deadly 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Peru causing extensive damage throughout the Ica Province, located along the southern coast. The quake killed more than 540 people and at least 1,500 people were injured. 

Among the dead are 150 people who were killed when the roof of San Clemente Roman Catholic Church collapsed during a funeral service in the city of Pisco. According to recent reports, more than 16,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed and roughly 80,000 people have been affected by the earthquake.

ERD is working with the Diocese of Peru to provide food, blankets, shelter support and medicine for people left homeless by the quake. Eighty percent of housing has been destroyed in Pisco, near the epicenter of the earthquake.  The Diocese of Peru is deeply involved in the relief and rescue efforts by providing critical supplies and helping displaced people who have been injured and brought to Lima. 

"At present, we have a small team of people in the area of the epicenter," said the Rt. Rev. H. William Godfrey, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Peru. "They are primarily involved in feeding people as well as providing water and medicine."

 "We are working in conjunction with other churches and aid agencies, adding whatever we can to what God gives us," continued Bishop Godfrey.

"Our prayers remain with people traumatized and those who have lost loved ones in the midst of this crisis," said Coe Economou, ERD Program Officer for Latin America. "These initial funds will help our partners in Peru provide people with basic emergency supplies as we continue to work with diocesan staff to assess additional needs."

In the wake of Dean, a Category 4 hurricane, ERD has contacted partners in Jamaica, Belize, Haiti and the Dominican Republic and other parts of the region.  The major storm has caused flooding, mudslides, heavy rain, high winds and severe damage, killing at least nine people.

According to the National Hurricane Center, there is concern that the hurricane could become a Category 5 as it moves the Cayman Islands and approaches Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

ERD will assist people impacted by Hurricane Dean as church partners identify and assess needs locally. Please continue to pray for those affected by both of these disasters.

To help people affected by the earthquake in Peru and Hurricane Dean, please make a donation to ERD's "Emergency Relief Fund" online at http://www.er-d.org/, or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development "Emergency Relief Fund" P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) (3) organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world.  ERD's programs work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters. We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.

--Malaika Kamunanwire, Episcopal Relief and Development