Cusco Flood Relief

Lisa Law, my mother, has arrived in Peru and is continuing the effort to bring supplies to the communities that are now living in tents on hillsides until they are able to rebuild. I want to thank you all again for donating to this effort; it’s going to be a long haul. I am so happy there are people on the ground and throughout our online community that are willing to keep paying attention to what is going on in Peru. The effort will need to continue for years to come. 20,000+ people lost their homes, and 300 hectares of crops were ruined. With income lost and nowhere to live, it will take years to recover. If you would like to donate, you can now send $ directly via PayPal to lisalaw@cybermesa.com.

Here is Lisa’s first report:

On Sunday, Sunday Peaches, and my granddaughter Mirabai and some friends and I drove to Huacarpay outside of Cusco, Peru with blankets and clothes for the people who have lost their homes in the January floods. They are living in tents supplied by the government that are cold at night and like an oven during the day.  They don’t have enough water and very little fresh food.  Dry goods have been supplied  by people in Cusco but what they really need is about $100,000 to rebuild their homes above the flood plain or they could be living like this for over a year.  They are miserable and don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Monies coming in now are going to food and bedding so any amount sent is wonderful and they appreciate it very much.  The government is not helping them as they thought they would. I would be thrilled if we can get this message out to all our friends as fast as we can as I will be here one month and would like to see things moving in a positive direction for these people so they can have hope.

We brought food to feed some 1,500 people who are living in tents.  They were thrilled with the delivery but I am sad to say it might only last them 2 to 3 days if they mix it with lots of grains.

I wish I had a magic wand so I could rebuild for them in an instant.  What great people these are.