ACT Appeal

Peru - LAPE41

Assistance to Cold & Snow Storm Affected

Geneva, 9 August 2004

Appeal Target: US$69,507

Cold waves and snowfalls have hit the Southern Andes of Peru since 25 June – the first week of July being the worst with the lowest temperatures and heaviest snowfalls. At the moment it is winter in Peru with the coldest months being June, July and August. However, this year temperatures have been very low since April and have descended as low as –9º centigrade most nights. In the areas above 4,000 metres, there is deep snow covering the pastures. The situation could worsen drastically as the coldest peaks of winter usually occur around August/September.

The inhabitants of the affected areas are poor peasants surviving from their llamas and alpacas herds and subsistence farming. They live in small communities in very precarious conditions - their dwellings are built of mud with thatched roofs. The extreme climate conditions have caused death and acute cold related illnesses among people. However, their most significant losses have been in livestock that is kept in the open land and that is their main source of survival. This disaster adds up to the flooding and drought that the area has experienced in the preceding months.

ACT members in Peru, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and PREDES are proposing to support the affected communities to prevent further losses in their livestock and ensure their survival through:

• Vaccinations and vitamins for the livestock
• Construction of shelters for the most vulnerable livestock
• Pasture land crops

Project completion dates:
Lutheran World Relief - 15 December 2004
PREDES - 15 December 2004

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

Signed by:

Thor-Arne Prois
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office

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