More than 31,000 remain in shelters after devastating Peru floods
Highlights
UNICEF, through implementing partners, has provided humanitarian assistance in WASH, protection, nutrition, health and education to more than 58,000 children and families in the most affected district of Piura.
In order to provide safe water, UNICEF has delivered 24,000 water purification tablets, 466 chlorine residual test kits and 14,000 DPD colorimetric reagent (to control residual chlorine at different water points) to Piura Regional Directorate of Health.
Thanks to the coordinated effort of UNICEF, Piura Regional Government and humanitarian organizations, 6,586 people, including 3,741 children and adolescents, have received socio-emotional support.
The rehabilitation of the Genaro Martínez Silva School in Pedregal Grande district of Piura has been completed, allowing 1,257 students to return to class, signifying the 100% restart of classes in Piura.
UNICEF has been supporting the itinerant registration campaigns, conducted by the National Office of Identity and Civil Registration (RENIEC), to provide ID in Piura. In total, at present, 105 campaigns have been carried out, covering 8,270 registrations, of which 4,832 correspond to children and adolescents.
Piura Regional Directorate of Health with the technical cooperation of UNICEF, trained 21 health workers of the Catacaos Health Facility to conduct the nutritional and health assessment of children under 36 months of age from Catacaos, Curamori and Tambogrande districts.
SITUATION OVERVIEW & HUMANITARIAN NEEDS (reporting 11 to 23 May)
Based on figures from the National Civil Defence System (INDECI) as of May 19th, 1,374,425 people have been affected or severely affected in the country as a result of the rain and flooding produced by El Niño coastal phenomenon. Of these, 447,925 are children. Around 34 per cent of the total affected population are in Piura and 15 per cent in Lambayeque. La Libertad and Ancash are also among the most severely affected departments.
INDECI also reported at national level that 49,623 homes are destroyed or uninhabitable and more than 260,000 homes are affected; 253 schools have collapsed or are uninhabitable and 2,617 are affected; there are also 63 collapsed or uninhabitable health facilities.
People living in shelters are the main concern. To date, 31,288 people are living in shelters across the country, including an estimated 13,370 children. This population is distributed in 205 shelters (3,342 tents) located in eight departments, of which the vast majority, housing around 50% of the affected population, are in Piura. Water, sanitation, food, and protection are the key problems in this context. Additionally, there is a greater risk that children and women will be exposed to violence and abuse. Although the Government, humanitarian organizations and local NGOs are working to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions to the population in shelters, coordination and supervision need to be further strengthened to ensure the appropriate support to operation and maintenance of provisional water systems and latrines. This situation increases the risk associated to infectious diseases like acute diarrhea and respiratory infections. At the same time, the food provided and prepared in shelters is not appropriate for the needs of young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Even though the Ministry of Health (MINSA) is conducting many activities to prevent dengue and ZIKV transmission, including fumigation and communication campaigns, the population remain reluctant to allow their homes to be fumigated and follow the prevention recommendation. Health authorities in the Piura region have expressed their concern about the continued increase of probable cases of dengue, a concern that has been echoed by PAHO.
The Ministry of Health (MINSA) has reported more than 19,000 cases of dengue and 16 confirmed deaths attributable to the disease nationwide as to 22 April. Piura has the highest number of dengue cases with 7,249 probable and 1,503 confirmed. This is followed by Ica with 1,444 probable and 617 confirmed cases, La Libertad with 783 probable and 961 confirmed cases and Lambayeque with 571 probable and 688 confirmed cases.
It is estimated that more than 560,000 people have limited access to water and sanitation services in the regions of Piura, La Libertad, Tumbes, Ancash and Lambayeque. People living in dispersed rural areas are one of the most affected groups. Some rural communities are receiving intermittent support. The initial water and sanitation response from the Government was focusing more in urban and peri-urban areas, and lately in shelters.