Update from Chile
Church of God Field Director of Central America reports of the on-going circumstances surrounding a powerful earthquake that hit the country of Chile earlier this year.
Psychological and emotional support has been identified as an urgent need for more than 80% of the entire population directly or indirectly affected by the earthquake in Chile.
Latest numbers from the government confirm just over 1.8 million people have been affected in the four regions most affected by the earthquake and/or tsunamis (Metropolitan, Maule, O’Higgens, Bio Bio) and 65% of these people are in the Region of Bio Bio. Approximately 6,000 people are in collective centers throughout the four regions affected.
In these same four regions, 160,000 homes have been seriously damaged or destroyed, 37% of which are in Bio Bio. Some 93,600 houses still need to be assessed in the regions of Maule and O’Higgens.
The last of the search and rescue teams have finished their search for survivors in the Island of Juan Fernandez and other remote areas. A coordination meeting of international and national organizations working in an Emergency Shelter was held in March to discuss actions and planned contributions in the area of Temporary Shelters. Local authorities estimate that 1,260 schools have significant damages, which means that alternative solutions need to be found for some 560,000 students. The damage to educational infrastructure is estimated at $2.1 billion.
Approximately 155,000 people in rural areas still do not have water and sanitation services. In urban areas affected by the disaster, some 500,000 people that previously had residential access are now supplied by water trucks or other alternative measures.
Please pray for the people of Chile as they work towards rebuilding the nation.
–David Ramirez, Field Director – South America
Chile Earthquake Relief
Project Number 7650043
© 2010 Church of God World Missions
