On 22 June 2018, the Peruvian government through its Council of Ministries issued the Supreme Decree N° 062-2018-PCM declaring 122 districts from the high Andean areas from nine departments in state of emergency due to the damages caused by frost, snowfall and heavy rains, causing negative effects on health, education, as well as in agriculture and livestock activities. The severe weather significantly increased the cases of pneumonia and respiratory diseases; 556 cases of pneumonia among children under 5 years have been reported, as well as 185 fatalities. According to the National Center of Epidemiology, Lima has the highest number of influenza AH1N1, followed by Piura, Puno, Cuzco, Madre de Dios and Tacna. This season’s frost arrived earlier than usual and has already affected more than 104,579 Peruvians in 11 regions of the country.
In some areas, such as San Antonio de Putinas in Puno, temperatures plummeted to – 15 °C (5 °F), causing deaths of at least 6 children According to the Office of the Ombudsman, 15 schools were close as well as 02 health centers. 1,327 houses have been affect. As of July 09, 2018, in Puno, people were affected by the cold snap, 12,027 animals have died and 1,224,426 were affected; whereas in Cusco, there are 74,225 affected people, 18 affected houses, one affected school, 30 km of road were damaged, 2,287 animals have died and 192,844 were affected. There are 5,059 hectares of damaged crops.
Due to the situation, the ACT Alliance Forum in Peru through its local member DIACONIA is preparing a RRF proposal to provide humanitarian relief to the affected population.
