Americares Responding to Peru Flooding

Stamford, Conn. – March 23, 2017–Americares is responding to historic floods in Peru, where destructive high waters have killed more than 70 people and forced the local government to declare a state of emergency.

Since December 2016, El Niño-like conditions have brought more than 10 times the amount of normal rainfall, overwhelming rivers, triggering mudslides and destroying homes. The heavy rains, expected to continue for two weeks, have jeopardized water supplies and severed access to remote communities. According to local authorities, more than 600,000 people have been affected.

Americares is deploying an emergency response expert to assess survivors’ health needs. The health-focused relief and development organization is also delivering shipments of $7 million in medicine and medical and relief supplies: a shipment already in Peru is being diverted to impacted communities, while three additional shipments are leaving from Americares Stamford, Conn. distribution center.

“With communities cut off from medical care and thousands left homeless, health care is one of the greatest concerns,” said Americares Director of Emergency Response Kate Dischino. “We are working to ensure survivors have access to critical medicine and displaced families can protect their health.”

Americares has professional relief workers ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice and stocks emergency medicine and supplies in its warehouses in the U.S., Europe and India that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis. The organization responds to an average of 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings disaster preparedness programs to vulnerable communities.