ペルー沖地震被災者へ緊急食糧支援を開始(和文要約、本文は英文)

リマ発 - WFP 国連世界食糧計画は、8月16日（日本時間）に発生したペルー沖地震の被災者に対して、50万ドル(約5千9百万円)にあたる緊急食糧支援の実施を発表した。

WFPはこの緊急食糧支援の他にも、130トンの栄養強化ビスケットをエクアドル経由で空輸及び陸運送で届ける準備を整えた。 WFPペルー所長ギ・ゴーヴローは、「地震による死亡者の増加が懸念され、早急な支援が求められる。流通システムが復旧するまで多くの震災を逃れた人々が緊急支援を必要とする。」と述べた。

また、ゴーヴローはWFPの食糧備蓄により、地震発生から12時間という短時間で支援開始が実現したと述べた。




WFP BEGINS FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO VICTIMS OF PERU EARTHQUAKE

LIMA ‐ The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)today announced it is providing US$500,000 of urgently needed food supplies to assist the victims of the powerful earthquake that struck the southern coastal region of Peru early this morning.

The emergency food was drawn from in-country food stocks used in WFP’s development operations. The initiative comes following a request for assistance from the Government of Peru. The food will be distributed through PRONAA, the national programme for food assistance.

In addition, WFP stands ready to send up to 130 metric tons of High Energy Biscuits by air or overland transport from its sub-regional emergency hub in Ecuador.

“We need to act as quickly as possible because the situation is already bad and we still don’t know the full extent of the damage in all the outlying areas,” said WFP Country Director Guy Gauvreau.

The earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale, with an epicentre some 160km southeast of Lima, toppled buildings and set off landslides. About 380 people were estimated to have died, with hundreds more left homeless.

“While the majority of known deaths and injuries took place in Ica province, we still don’t have a full account of the situation in neighbouring Chincha and Cañete provinces and particularly Pisco province where there are reports of widespread damage to houses,” Gauvreau said.

“We fear the death toll could increase and that many survivors will need immediate assistance until the local infrastructure and distribution systems are restored,” he added.

Gauvreau said WFP was able to respond quickly thanks to the presence of in-country food stocks used in WFP’s development operations.“These food-stocks have enabled us to respond in just over 12 hours' time which means that we are hopefully off to a good start in alleviating some of the suffering and devastation unleashed by this disaster.”

One challenge facing relief efforts could be difficult road conditions. There were initial reports that parts of the Pan-American Highway were damaged. In addition, road conditions in more remote areas are still not fully known.