The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is donating up to NOK 5 million to aid the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Peru during the weekend. The ministry is in regular contact with the Norwegian Red Cross and Norwegian Church Aid on the situation. At this stage the most pressing need is for food, clean water, first aid and medicine for the survivors.

Interim president Valentin Paniagua has declared a state of emergency for the entire region hit by the earthquake in the southern part of the country. So far more than 70 people are reported dead and 1000 injured. The death toll is expected to mount in the next few days. The earthquake has severely damaged the infrastructure in the region, seriously impeding relief efforts.

The earthquake, which hit southern Peru on 23 June, measured 8.1 on the Richter scale. It is the most severe quake to hit Peru since 1970, when more than 70,000 people were killed and 600,000 left homeless following an earthquake in the northern part of the country.