Intrepid Travel digs deep for Peru mudslides

Floods in Peru have caused widespread damage and left some 10,000 people homeless

Intrepid Travel and The Intrepid Foundation have launched an appeal to support the flood affected people of Peru.  The Intrepid Peru Floods Appeal will support the response of Plan Peru in devastated communities. 

The Intrepid Foundation has kicked off the appeal by making a donation of AU$20,000 to Plan.  In addition, Intrepid Travel will match all donations received from the public, dollar for dollar, up to another AU$20,000.*

Last week, 2,000 international tourists were evacuated from flood affected areas of Peru, near the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.  But how have the local people fared?

The floods have damaged thousands of hectares of crops, washed away more than a dozen bridges, damaged several highways and left some 10,000 people homeless. Peruvian authorities have declared a state of emergency and families face severe food insecurity in the coming weeks and months.

Rachael Harvey from our Intrepid Andes office reports "A number of communities that we work with are affected by the mudslides. Our friends in Chawaytire and Pampallaqta have lost crops and families in Taray and Umasamba also have lost their homes.  Our Inca Trail cook, Virgilio has lost everything in his home town of Limatambo.”

Plan Peru maintains operations in 320 of the affected communities.  Darrell Wade, Intrepid's CEO says, "We believe Plan is in an excellent position to offer an effective and immediate response and we encourage travellers' support for our appeal." 

Plan is a member of the Regional Emergency Operation Committee and is collaborating with other responding agencies to provide aid to children and families. They are focusing on the most affected families in 320 communities that remain isolated because of the floods.  Plan's response includes:

• Distributing food, cooking kits and water cans

• Providing families with tents and hygiene kits

• Focusing on the unique needs of children, including distribution of children’s clothing and baby hygiene kits, organising support activities for children and addressing child protection concerns

• Ensuring the maintenance and replenishment of oxygen and nebuliser tanks at 31 health centres

Make a donation to Intrepid Travel's Peru Floods Appeal.