Cusco, Peru, Jan 28, 2010 / 19:04 pm
Archbishop Juan Antonio Ugarte Perez of Cusco, Peru called for prayers for the residents in southern Andean region of Anta, where torrential rains and building collapses have caused serious damage.
“We need to organize ourselves to confront the emergency together.” He explained that Caritas Cusco is sending supplies such as food, medicine, clothing and electric blankets “to those families that have lost everything.”
He added that Caritas Cusco delivered its first load of aid on January 25 to the town of Izcuchaca, where 50 families have been left homeless.
“Considering that the emergency is growing as well as the number of those affected, no amount of aid is sufficient,” Archbishop Ugarte said. He the urged “all Peruvians to show solidarity with those affected.”
The building collapses have affected some 2,000 tourists who are “trapped” in the town of Aguas Calientes, where buses depart to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.