Food for the Hungry Peru has been hard at work in Chincha since the August 15 earthquake. In most recent months our focus has been on rubble removal, health education, and psychosocial needs while coordinating with other agencies about the possibility of home reconstruction.
Much work has been done to remove rubble but there is still a need for more demolition and removal of rubble in the main roads to be picked up. FH Peru has worked with the communities, helping them organize themselves and form clean up groups around the community and aided them with tool kits containing wheel barrows, shovels, and picks. Recently a small work team from from the US helped community members their clean up efforts. Community members were very encouraged and many commented that the service of the team gave them hope as they continue ahead with the difficult work of reconstructing their community.
In the month of November the health staff were busy with health trainings and assessments. In coordination with the trainings, water containers and hygiene kits have been distributed. The first week of December FH Peru will
have a water on display for the community to see and ask questions. It will cover proper water maintenance, storage, hygiene, and parasite museum. In coordination with CARE there have also been trainings on proper use and care of pit latrines.
In recent weeks there have been coordination meeting with communities to discuss some of the psychosocial needs of the children. FH Peru will be working alongside parents, school teachers, and community leaders to provide safe place spaces and structured activities, school management committee's, strategic planning for teachers, as well as activities for children that promotes and reinforces basic hygiene.
Food for the Hungry has been involved in a task force for the reconstruction of homes in the affected area. The task force is made up of other NGO's, donors, and university specialists who are interested in offering their experience and expertise to benefit the reconstruction process. The group is working on various strategies to coordinate and work along side the Peruvian government.
Thank you for your continued interest in Peru. Your prayers are still needed for the families as they work hard to reconstruct their lives.
