Convoy of Hope Prepares to Assist
For Immediate Release:
Springfield, Mo. — Through an ongoing partnership with FedEx, Convoy of Hope will be shipping relief supplies to victims of the 8.0 magnitude earthquake that crippled Peru earlier this week. FedEx will transport the supplies to Miami free of charge. The Peruvian Air Force will then airlift the supplies to the country’s most severely affected areas.
Since news of the earthquake that rocked Peru first reached Convoy of Hope, staff have been in constant communication, confirming the safety of local partners there and assessing how the Springfield-based international compassion organization can best help.
Still reeling from Thursday’s initial blow, people there are now enduring more than 100 aftershocks, some lasting more than 2 minutes and up to a 6.3 magnitude, and have very little shelter, sparse communications, and no electricity or clean water. Fearing the last of the standing buildings will collapse, hundreds of injured people are lined up on cots in the open air. Peru is currently in its winter season and victims are begging for water, medical supplies, tents, blankets and warm clothing.
From Panama, Kenton Moody, International Director said, “Our teams are prepared to leave for the area, but because of the severely compromised infrastructure, we’re evaluating the best way to respond further.”
Most infrastructure is destroyed or severely compromised, limiting communication and transportation. Airports are closed, as are most roads, including the main arterial Pan American Highway.
Convoy of Hope’s local partners have been assessing the most devastated areas, reporting, “The four main cities that were affected are Pisco (population 110,000), 70-80% destroyed; Chincha (25 miles from the epicenter, population 155,000), 40% destroyed; Ica (60 miles south of Chincha) 40% destroyed; and Cañete (50 miles north of Chincha) 30% destroyed.”
Please help Convoy of Hope reach these victims during their time of desperation — donate to the relief effort via http://www.convoyofhope.og.
More than 500 people have lost their lives with another 1,500 injured. Many of the victims are employees of three separate hospitals that collapsed on top of the employees. A prison with 600 inmates was also destroyed with only 90 being captured at last communication.
For more information:
Kristin Kubitschek, Public Relations Director, 417/823-8998 or 417/894-9084 mobile
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Since 1994, Convoy of Hope™, a nonprofit organization, has provided resources to organizations and churches to meet physical and spiritual needs for the purpose of making the community a better place. This is accomplished through domestic and international outreaches, supply lines, and disaster response.