Once again, Puno has been facing another very cold winter. This used to happen every seven years or so but, probably due to climate change, severe cold winters are becoming more and more frequent. There is usually a cold spell in August but what is not normal this year is the intensity of the cold. Television news reports speak of temperatures of -23% C in Mazo Cruz (south of Puno)!
Last year Irish Baptists responded with donations to purchase blankets, which Lourdes Brew bought and distributed around many of the Baptist churches in the area. Because she bought so many blankets last year, the supplier gave her a bundle of some fifty extra ones which were stored. Now she hopes to go up to Puno and distribute these in the Ilave church.
When this need was last mentioned on Missionline we were asked if an appeal should be made for more money to buy extra blankets and there is no doubt that these would be very useful right now. There is, however, a very tight time scale facing us. Lourdes would have to buy and distribute the blankets in the next two weeks and it may be difficult to coordinate this with the churches.
Certain Television channels are already mounting campaigns to collect clothes and blankets for needy communities in the countryside of Puno, and the response appears to be good. But people are becoming aware that Puno is a problem which will always be with us.
So, does Puno need help now? Yes!
Lourdes is responding to the need right now, with the promise of funds from Baptist Aid. This illustrates the value of an emergency fund to draw upon, so thank you for supporting so far and for your practical and prayerful response to emergencies in our part of the world.
Yours in Christ!
John Brew
A recent report from Andean Airmail & Peruvian Times….
Puno’s freezing temperatures expected to continue until weekend
Temperatures in Puno dropped last week to their lowest levels this year. In the city of Puno, the temperature fell to -4C degrees, -13C degrees in Juliaca, -15C degrees in Crucero and -23C degrees in Maso Cruz. Peru’s minister of Women, Nidia Vilchez, announced that 250 tonnes of food would be provided to residents in 65 Puno districts to help weather the cold, state news agency Andina reported. The aid will be provided by the national program for food assistance, Pronaa.
In addition, government agency AgroRural will provide more than 4,000 sheds for livestock in Puno, which are an important source of capital for local residents. This year’s cold spell in southern Peru has killed more than 110 people, according to RPP radio station. Forty-five people have died in Puno and 67 in Arequipa region.