Peru, February 21, 2022. This month a new earthquake of 6.8 degrees shook Amazonas in the same area affected by the strong tremor of last November, which left dozens of families homeless.An estimated 900 affected families remain extremely vulnerable due to the continuation of natural disasters in these areas. 

Rosa, a 12-year girl from the region of Amazonas says:“the truth is that everything happened very quickly, all of Pueblo Nuevo has collapsed and there is nothing left. Not everyone has been able to get their things out, just like my family they have been able to get some clothes, all because the road has been destroyed, it has gone into the river. We can't study anymore, we can't do anything, we don't have books, we don't have tables to sit”. 

A 46% of the population in the affected areas were already living in poverty before the latest climate disaster events. Faced with this complicated panorama, Save the Children reinforces its commitment to continue bringing humanitarian aid to this area through its humanitarian response program in Amazonas, with the support of Start Fund.  

Verónica Valdivieso, Perú Country Director for Save the Children remarked that: “the purpose of the intervention is to address the most urgent and unmet needs of the population. Some of the actions we are implementing are the transfer of cash to affected families; procurement and distribution of urgent water and sanitation infrastructure; friendly spaces in shelters and psychosocial support for children; advice to the Emergency Education Bureau to ensure school rehabilitation and continuity of learning, procurement and immediate distribution of non-food items, as well as the implementation of safe spaces for nursing mothers”. 

Save the Children programs provides a response to the needs of the families in the area through the cash transfer modality, which will meet the urgent and unmet needs of 440 affected families in terms of food and hygiene supplies acquisition. The objective is to provide a quick and effective cash transfer mechanism to families and individuals in need to protect their well-being.

With no showers or sinks available and camps that are not designed for water supply, there is a high risk of health issues and protection for children living in these conditions.  

Save the Children WASHinitiatives with the provision of water tanks, showers and toilet blocks will address the needs of the most vulnerable populations while the government establishes the recovery process of homes, land road, health centers, school infrastructure and other material belongings of the affected people. 

Child protection and prevention of gender-based violence is part of Save the Children response in these areas. Two promoters will identify and select a total of 100 local actors to carry out the identification of potential risks within the shelters and implement risk mitigation measures, working in partnership with municipalities and civil society organizations.