Peru: How to Help Victims of Floods Mudslides in Cusco and Southern Andes - Climate Change Crisis [VIDEO]

Chimate change affecting our planet, has caused a humanitarian crisis this week in the already most impoverished regions of Peru. This is a good moment to show solidarity with the Indigenous communities of the southern Andes of Peru.

Heavy rains -strongest season ever- have caused floods, rivers overflows, mudslides, destruction of roads and entire towns are under water. About 80,000 people have been directly affected by this crisis in the region of Cusco only, 80% of the people living in the valleys surrounding Cusco are now homeless, most of whom are Indigenous rural communities. More victims are from the regions of Puno, Apurimac, Huancavelica, and Ayacucho as well. Read an extensive report here.

People in Cusco and other cities of southern Peru are already working to assist the most needed, especially children, women and the elderly; but they need our support. Here is a list of ways to help the people that needs urgent assistance with food, supplies, medicines, shelter.

How to help the people of Cusco and southern Andean regions

You can donate money to RELIABLE charities who are working directly with the affected communities. They are not part of the government of Peru, who unfortunately has a record of corruption and misuse of international donations: the people of southern Peru affected by the 2007 earthquake, are still living in shanty towns.

Update April 2010:

Indigenous actress and activist Q'orianka Kilcher and her mother are organizing a fundraising event and permanent campaign to collect funds they will direct to Cusco most needed communities. Q'orianka is a well known activist for the rights of Indigenous peoples, her father's family is from Cusco. Please get more information in her website.

Donations from overseas:

I have contacted international relief organizations in the U.S. The International Red Cross said that they work directly with the Peruvian Red Cross, and I interviewed its Director, Mario Rios who assured me that all the funds will be used with transparency and responsibility. Listen to the audio here. I am waiting for Oxfam to confirm if they will start a specific campaign for southern Peru.

You can donate from overseas to these main campaigns. Please use the "SWIFT code and then the account number.

• The Peruvian Red Cross is sending relief assistance directly to the small towns affected. Donate to their account 0011-0444-44-4444444444 - BBVA Banco Continental, the SWIFT code is also BCPLPEPL
  

Donations in Peru:

This information is posted by the Peruvian Society of Environmental Law (SPDA) and by members of the Facebook group "Cusco United against the Tragedy" (created by Cusco college students).

The Peruvian Red Cross is collecting in Lima:

- Non-perishable food, canned and well sealed food, especially water.
- Personal hygiene kits, dental brushes and paste, toilet paper, soap, small towels, women health supplies, etc.
- Winter clothing, clean and ready to be wore.

Fundraising Cultural Event “Cusco in Lima”:

This Saturday February 6, at 3:00 pm. to 10:00 pm. there will be live music, dance performances, poetry, theater, etc. at Parque Kennedy in Miraflores. Lima.

Bring your donations in:

CUSCO

- At the main square, Plaza de Armas Wajaypata (Paraninfo Universitario and Casa del Maestro)
- Chamber of Commerce of Cusco: Jr. Julio C. Tello C-11, Urb. Santa Mónica
- Rotary Club Cusco: Calle Nueva Baja Nº 565

LIMA:

- Club Departamental Cusco: calle Almirante Guisse 934, Jesús Maria.
- Frecuencia Latina; Av. San Felipe 968, Jesús María
- Caritas Peru: Omicron 492, Callao
- "Cusco sí se siente en Lima" Parque Kennedy de Miraflores.

Please help Cusco and the southern Andean regions of Peru. There is an urgent need to help communities who have lost it all, see these heartbreaking images.


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