The Red Cross responds to extreme temperatures in Peru

The Canadian Red Cross, one of the largest non-profit organizations in Canada, is devoted to delivering humanitarian aid and relief to those in need worldwide. Recently, with the support of the Government of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross contributed to the response to extreme temperatures in Peru.

One of the tools used to support National Societies to deliver humanitarian aid is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). The DREF is a fund that ensures immediate financial support available for emergency responses to disasters. Most recently, the DREF became an essential part of relief operations in Peru, where a cold snap resulted in health, food security and livelihood needs.

Sending aid to South America
Nearly 300,000 Swiss francs were allocated from the DREF to provide aid to the Peruvian Red Cross. This was used to meet the needs of at least 1,000 individuals in the region. The weather increased cases of pneumonia, conjunctivitis and respiratory infections, and impacted farming with an estimated 26,000 animals dead and a total of 683,344 affected.

The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in a number of provinces in late August. In response, the Peruvian Red Cross requested support from the IFRC to implement protection activities focused on livelihoods for 1,000 families in the region of Puno. The DREF funding will be used for veterinary kits, technical advice for livestock care, animal feed, a month's worth of food distribution for families, and further technical training for the Peruvian Red Cross volunteers as well as Agro Rural technicians. Activities complement efforts from the German Red Cross and the European Community Humanitarian Office to provide medical supplies, blankets, hygiene promotion and hygiene kits for 1,500 families.

The Canadian Red Cross response
The Americas is a priority region for the Canadian Red Cross. Through a partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, the Government of Canada contributed CAD 30,000 to support the Peruvian Red Cross response to the food security and livelihood needs of families affected by the cold snap and snowfall. The Canadian Red Cross thanks the government of Canada for its ongoing generous support to IFRC emergency response operations.

You, too, can make a difference. Donate today to the International Disaster Relief Fund to help us respond immediately following a disaster with essential supplies and trained personnel so that we are able to save lives and ease suffering. and enable humanitarian aid.