Looting, Hunger and Civil Unrest

(Photo: RICARDO MAZALAN/AP Wire Service)

Few buildings still stand in the town of Pisco, one of the areas most strongly affected by Wednesdays earthquake. According to President Alan Garcia 80,000 people have lost loved ones, homes or both. Equally compelling is the loss of order that seems to be spreading throughout the region.

President Garcia predicted that "a situation approaching normality" would return in 10 days, but acknowledged that reconstruction would take far longer. In the interim, the Garcia administration is sending hundreds of reinforcement troops to the southern cites of Ica, Canete, Pisco and Chincha. As the days pass from the immediate impact of the mighty quake, people are desperate to get their basic needs met.

A lack of access to potable water (aid agencies report that nearly 80% of the people in the earthquake zone do not have access to clean water), food and shelter are creating a "mob like" mentality in the region. Add to this complex situation the fact that nearly 600 criminal offenders (authorities were still trying to trace the where about of some 600 criminal offenders - reportedly including rapists and murderers - who escaped from the Tambo de Mora prison in Chincha Alta during the earthquake) are on the streets of Chincha and the surrounding communities - and the situation is rather grime.

News agencies have been reporting broad spread looting and "gang" activity. People desperate for food and water are taking to the streets as the Peruvian government works to quell the spread of any potential epidemic diseases, bring basic necessities to the devastated areas, and restore hope to a battered people. The next few days will be very important for the Peruvian government - as the people of the quake zone will strongly look to Garcia and his cabinet to ensure order and deliver on his promises of creating "normality" in the region.

Meanwhile in the heart of all of the chaos, the search for survivors continues on many fronts. British experts in disaster response lead by Mr. Paul Wooster, coordinator of the Rapid UK rescue team, told the Toronto Star New Service that rescuers were using sound detectors and infrared cameras to search for survivors. The latest survivor discovered, a man, was pulled from the rubble at midday Friday. However, as time passes, the hope of finding more survivors becomes smaller and smaller.

Please help to keep hope alive by praying for the people of Peru.