Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After severe damages that the floods have caused in Cusco, Puno and Apurimac, local residents still claim that help is slow to arrive, but they also  also demand that "help should not be politicized,"  according to the Mayor of Anta (Cusco), Wilber Rosas.

A few days ago Rosas demanded more transparency in the humanitarian help sent by the National Program of Food Aid (Pronaa) to the thousands of people affected by the rainfalls and floods in the southern Peruvian Andes.

This happens in a moment when Pronaa has been questioned on its work managing food aid for people in extreme poverty in Peru. The most recent case took place in Piura, where its local branch director is accused of using the post to promote her candidacy for the upcoming elections.

Rosas also said that some government officials might take advantage of the situation and use food aid for political propaganda. Foreign Trade Minister Martín Pérez told the press he found former the former mayor of Machu Picchu Pueblo, Óscar Valencia Aucca, generating confrontations between local authorities and the population.

Meanwhile, the President of Congress, Luis Alva Castro, announced that he will take 40 tons of humanitarian aid to the affected areas in the next few days.

President Alan García is currently meeting with Finance Minister Mercedes Araoz to determine the increase of the budget for helping the affected areas.

Prime Minister Javier Velasquez Quesquen visited Puno on Saturday, almost a week after the floods started, and promised that 90 tons of help were to arrive soon.

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