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Peru

CHF International responds to Peru earthquake; Mobilizes $50,000 to assist in relief

Silver Spring, MD-CHF International has deployed an Emergency Response Team to Peru to assess the damage on the ground, rapidly identify underserved communities, and launch shelter and livelihoods initiatives that will assist survivors and vulnerable groups to begin the recovery process.

A leader in providing humanitarian response and economic development assistance since 1952, CHF International has mobilized $50,000 to assist the survivors as they begin their recovery process. Concerned individuals can read ongoing updates from staff on the ground about CHF International's response at www.chfinternational.org.

The 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Peru last Wednesday, August 15, 2007, has already caused more than 500 deaths and destroyed over 34,000 homes, leaving scores of families without shelter. CHF International has pledged $50,000 to begin responding to efforts that link relief with longer-term reconstruction efforts, and will employ its community-driven approach to optimize the involvement of local community members in reconstruction efforts, in order to achieve lasting results.

"CHF International has close ties to the people of Peru," said CHF International's Senior Vice President, Judith A. Hermanson, Ph.D. "We believe our universal approach to engaging affected communities and coordinating our response activities-from the outset-will help to carry the Peruvian people from relief to recovery in a sustainable way," said Dr. Hermanson.

To that end, CHF International's assessment team is exploring key initiatives that can be launched rapidly to ensure the greatest impact on recovery in the affected region in close cooperation with the communities and their priorities.

From past experience in disaster situations, CHF realizes that access to adequate shelter is crucial to mitigate health crises that can result from prolonged exposure to the elements (particularly the outbreak of disease in a context where health and sanitation services have already been severely disrupted). In response, CHF will leverage its experience building cost effective and locally appropriate emergency and transitional shelters in post-hurricane Mitch throughout Central America and in post-tsunami Indonesia and Sri Lanka to assist displaced families in Peru.

For more information about CHF International and CHF's response in Peru, please contact Nussi Abdullah at nabdullah@chfinternational.org, or call 301-587-4700.

With experience in more than 100 countries, CHF International's mission is to serve as a catalyst for long-lasting positive change, helping low-income communities improve their social, economic, and environmental conditions. Since 2005, CHF's programs have directly served more than 40 million people, giving them access to the skills, tools, and resources they need to live, healthier, happier lives.