Older people struggle to rebuild their lives

One year on from the earthquake in southern Peru the situation remains desperate for many of the 650,000 people affected, who have received little or no support since the earthquake struck.

In cities such as Pisco and Paracas, older people in particular are struggling to rebuild their homes due to a lack of resources and materials and the loss of identity and property documents. They also need medicines, clothes and help in reestablishing a livelihood.

The authorities have shown a considerable lack of capacity to respond effectively to people’s needs, and many people have lost hope of ever receiving the support they need.

56-year-old Don Luis Herrer recently received a prefabricated wooden shed measuring just 6m2. He now lives there with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. This is all the family has received after one year of living in a tent. Many more older people are still living in temporary shelters, battling stormy weather conditions.

On 15 August older people came together for a vigil to mark the anniversary of the earthquake. They took action to pressurise the Peruvian authorities into fulfilling their obligations towards those affected.

Supporting older people

HelpAge International’s experience shows that older people are often overlooked in emergency response and rehabilitation programmes. It has been supporting partner organisations in Pisco and Paracas including Grupo Vida –Dios es Amor of Lima, who have been working since the earthquake struck to bring aid to older people.

The organisation is supporting an older people’s group called Personas Mayores Paracas Vida to help alleviate the needs of homeless families by providing soup kitchens, basic healthcare, clothes and blankets, and group activities.

"The situation is worse than before"

Mili Castro, from partner organisation Grupo Vida - Dios es Amor, says:

“We are here standing up for the rights of older people. We started this organisation with 20 older people. We now have more than100 members and we're struggling to find a place big enough to meet!

“Hopefully authorities will finally give us some attention. Despite all the money the authorities say has been invested in rebuilding Pisco, the situation is worse than before. It is extremely sad, but we will keep on working no matter what.” 

Don Braulio Montalvo, 54, is President of the older people’s organisation Personas Mayores Paracas Vida, says:

“The government has done nothing. Where is all the help and money they promised? We haven’t received anything. We only receive help from country donors, nothing from the government. Thousands of poor families are still living in tents, suffering from cold weather and insecurity. How long we will have to endure this?”