A World Vision team arrives in quake-affected areas to provide psychological assistance to children who experienced the traumatic event; meanwhile, aid products continue to be delivered to survivors. (INTERACTIVE)

September 2007

By Ester Luis, Communications Assistant


Following the devastating 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Peru's central coast on Aug. 15, a World Vision team of psychologists arrived in the hard-hit cities of Pisco, Chincha, and Ica to provide support for the affected children.

"I was in my house with my daddy when suddenly everything started to shake," says Karen Cartagena, 12, remembering what she experienced the day the earthquake destroyed her house in Pisco. "We [went] out because it was very strong. I was so afraid, especially since people said that we had a possible tsunami ... then we started to run to save our lives. It was terrible."

Emotional Implications for Children

Like Karen, there are thousands of children who now face psychological consequences after experiencing the disaster firsthand.

"After traumatic events like the earthquake, it is important that children recover their emotional balance," says Betzabeth Lizarbe, a World Vision psychologist. "They need to express what they feel, because [otherwise], they could have emotional problems in the future."

	PERU EARTHQUAKE: Images of the Aftermath View a slideshow of photos depicting the disaster's toll and the efforts of World Vision to assist devastated children and families.

Child-Friendly Spaces

A World Vision team gathered together children from the three cities, where they were able to play, draw, and talk with each other. "Playing is a strategy to restore this emotional balance in children, since they are able to talk about their experiences," Lizarbe adds. "We can use the games to teach them to protect themselves in case of [another] emergency."

To continue bringing support to children affected by the earthquake, World Vision is planning to establish Child Friendly Spaces, where children can meet one another to play, learn how to deal with risks they face, be involved in educational activities, and relax in a safe place.

"We will use therapies, along with games, painting, drawing, and photography," says Lizarbe. "To support this program, we expect the collaboration of specialists, teachers in the area, and volunteers."

As part of our psychological support for children affected by the disaster, World Vision in Peru also plans to train pastors and local church leaders on counseling techniques.

Relief Supplies Continue to Arrive

Several weeks after the earthquake, the reconstruction stage has begun, but families still have basic needs to be met.

"People are still shocked," says Yadira Pacheco, a World Vision staff member in Peru. "They are still trying to recover their belongings from the destroyed houses. Children talk about their fears and the quake over and over, while the parents try to keep them close all the time."

In addition to psychological aid provided for children, World Vision has delivered $100,000 worth of material help to survivors, including blankets, clothing, shoes, food kits, tents, medicines, cooking pots, and water. Another $300,000 in medicines is expected to arrive soon. So far, 5,000 Peruvian families have been assisted in the wake of the disaster.

Reports indicate that kitchen kits — distributed with the help of volunteers from local churches — and tools for house reconstruction are now being delivered to the areas of Senor de Luren in Ica, Tupac Amaru and San Clemente in Pisco, and Tambo de Mora in Chincha. One local church donated storage space for World Vision relief supplies to be kept before delivery.

The earthquake killed 513 people, injured more than 1,000, and affected more than 85,000. Additionally, more than 37,500 homes were destroyed, including 80 percent of all housing in Pisco.