On Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 4:18 AM, an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 was recorded near Acari in the Arequipa region of southern Peru. One person is confirmed dead, dozens have been injured, and homes and roads collapsed. Based on RMF Peru's 11 years of experience in earthquake and flood relief, this project will provide mobile medical outreach care for affected communities, while providing emergency kits for 3,000 people displaced or most vulnerable after the earthquake.
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck the coast of southern Peru on Sunday morning, January 14, 2018, leaving one dead and several dozen injured, while causing homes and roads to collapse. Several municipalities are without electricity, and many roads and adobe houses have been damaged or destroyed. Residents of Lomas, a coastal town near the epicentre of the earthquake, have been evacuated after feeling an aftershock.
RMF Peru has vast experience responding to disasters. After the recent floods, our team conducted outreach clinics and distributed blankets, insect repellent, and other NFIs for victims. In a disaster, medical care is often most urgently required. However, damage to roads can impede the arrival of help to the affected zones, which are mainly rural and remote. Our mobile medical teams are able to relocate to affected areas, bringing with them the skills and equipment required.
This project is an emergency disaster relief, stopgap initiative. The longer-term impact will be through the distribution of health promotion information, which will educate affected communities regarding immediate and longer-term health needs of individuals and families.
