Peru Floods
About the Crisis
Heavy rains in Peru have caused massive flooding and mudslides in many parts of the country. The floods have resulted in fatalities and displacement, and have caused widespread damage to homes, roads, schools, and other infrastructure, especially along the northern coastal areas.
National, regional, and local governments, along with non-governmental organizations and private businesses, are providing assistance. In addition, a disaster team with USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance is working with local disaster authorities to assess needs and provide humanitarian assistance to people in need.
At the request of the Government of Peru, the U.S. military is providing logistics support for the relief efforts. In coordination with USAID, U.S. Southern Command provided two C-130 aircraft to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian cargo and personnel to hard-to- reach areas.
Extensive damage to Peru’s roads and bridges has hindered transportation to affected areas, potentially worsening the humanitarian situation. Priority needs include safe drinking water, improved hygiene, and sanitation services to affected areas.
How You Can Help
When disasters occur anywhere in the world, Americans generously offer assistance to those in need. Decades of experience in disaster relief and recovery have shown that the best way to help people affected by disaster is to make cash donations to reputable relief and charitable organizations on the ground. These groups work closely with affected communities, and know what people need and how to strengthen recovery efforts.
Cash donations are the most efficient form of assistance. Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees. It also enables relief organizations to spend more time providing aid by spending less time managing goods. Cash donations also allow relief supplies to be purchased in markets close to the disaster site, which stimulates the local economy, thereby boosting employment and generating cash flow to stimulate the local economy.
If you are considering making a monetary contribution to a relief organization, you can find detailed financial and programmatic information at GiveWell, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and the Better Business Bureau. The organizations listed below are experienced and are participating directly in relief efforts in Peru .
Organizations Responding to the Floods in Peru*
Catholic Relief Services Peru (English)
* Disclaimer: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of non-U.S.Government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. USAID CIDI does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.
Additional Resources
About USAID CIDI
USAID created the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) in 1988 one month after Hurricane Gilbert made landfall as a Category 5 storm that affected 10 countries. An outpouring of unsolicited donations took up space needed to stage and deliver life-saving relief supplies, and USAID and other responders spent valuable time managing unneeded clothing, expired medicine, and other non-critical items. USAID established the Center to educate the public about the advantages of giving monetary donations to relief organizations and the downside of donating unsolicited material goods www.cidi.org. USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) leads and coordinates the U.S. government’s humanitarian assistance efforts overseas, responding to an average of 65 disasters in more than 50 countries every year. Learn More About USAID/OFDA
