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Extreme cold kills 250 children in Peruvian highlands

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to Dan Collyns, BBC's correspondant in Peru, almost 250 children have died in the Peruvian southern Andean highlands, a figure that is 40% higher than the 2008's casualties.

Respiratory infections and pneumonia are not uncommon in the winter months, but this year's cold season began in March, three months earlier than usual (June).

Climate experts blame it on the global warmth, which might have modified the region's usual weather patterns and averages, with tempetatures dropping to -20°C (-4°F) in some regions.

Since many children in these regions are cronically malnourished, they are more vulnerable and prone to illnesses.

Thus, the extreme cold has killed more children this year than during the previous four years.

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# Martin says :
13 July, 2009 [ 08:49 ]

When will these so-called adults stop having children when they can not provide them a decent life? At a minimum, food and warm clothing. Probably never! Depending on charity is not the answer.

Also, I am tired of listening to  - when Peru goes communist or
so-called South American socialist, the enforced redistribution of wealth will take care of these peoblems.

# Martin says :
13 July, 2009 [ 11:05 ]

To all my socialist/communist friends reading LIP, I think that after reading your comments I will convert to socialism. Can I give you a bank account for you to deposit my monthly deposit. I can use the assistance. Or do I have to wait until after the revolution?

# Martin says :
13 July, 2009 [ 11:15 ]

I am not insulting Peru. So slow down and wash out your foul mouth. Hurling insults will not solve anything.

My point is quite simple - we should all be responsible for our actions and having children requires individual responsibility. Not collective responsibility.

Don't confuse people going hungry in the US with being hungry in Peru. Most hungry Peruvians or hungry people in most countries would be very happy to receive the food that US food stamps provide.

# Carlos Alcantara Cardenas says :
13 July, 2009 [ 11:26 ]

Martin, of course what you are saying is true, but you shouldn't expect people to recognize it. This is for two psychological reasons:

1) People are wired by evolution to be obsessed with having children, and they get panicked and angry by anyone suggesting they might considering not having children.

2) Because Peruvians realize that many people in the developed world look at the Peruvians condescendingly as uneducated and poor, they are hypersensitive to any perceived criticism. They mistake what is a common sense argument - don't pump out the children if you can't take care of them - with some sort of racial insult against them.

# Terri says :
13 July, 2009 [ 12:44 ]

Martin, You sound like a foolish American.  You blame the weather on poor parents.  Sh1t for brains.

# Paul says :
13 July, 2009 [ 13:23 ]

These pages are getting ridiculous.  In no way am I pro or anti american, but like it or not ernesto and amigos, without US and European investment and trade Peru would be a hell of a lot worse off.  

You comments are idiotic. 

# ExpatPeru says :
13 July, 2009 [ 13:38 ]

When will these so-called adults stop having children when they can not provide them a decent life? At a minimum, food and warm clothing. Probably never! Depending on charity is not the answer.

Inferior life needs to end. Where have I heard that before? We were born to reproduce, foster and die, just like any other creature on this planet, and that's why people have a lot of problems with the idea of not having children. It's our nature, it's in our DNA. Even people who don't want to have children will be extremely annoyed if it would be specifically forbidden to have them.

And of couse it's not, like Carlos Alcantara tries to tell us, obsessive behaviour. It's not that, since we were born, we think about reproduction all the time, right, Carlos?

In the end, Martin isn't right, and it's also an intent of genocide based on article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide: (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group

# Martin says :
13 July, 2009 [ 15:25 ]

ExpatPeru - I simply don't want to be responsible for paying for the procreation actvities of others - in Peru, in the US, or anywhere. I have absolutely no problem if you want to use your resources to feed the world; just don't tell me what I must do. 

In the procreation of other species [for example, 4-legged animals], when there is inadequate food supply to feed all, the weaker die off. Such as the Arctic lemming. Is this genocide? I assume you consider abortion as genocide.

# ExpartPeru says :
13 July, 2009 [ 15:55 ]

Martin, I have this vague idea that our brains have evolved a "bit" farther than that of a lemming, don't you agree? The mere fact that we are smart enough to put a man on the moon means we can think of better solution than "letting the weak die". If we'd think the animal way, then we might as well close all hospitals and leave those in areas of natural disaster (think of New Orleans or the Tsunami-stricken areas in Asia) to die.

If the government imposes measurements that force women to have an abortion, then, yes, it's genocide. If women enter the clinic themselves and have an abortion on voluntary base, then it's not genocide. Whether or not it's considered murder is a whole other discussion, but not the issue of this thread.

# Martin says :
13 July, 2009 [ 16:30 ]

ExpatPeru - I don't believe that homo sapien has evolved to the same level that you do.
In many countries, such as Peru, procreation is merely a means of having offspring to look after the procreators in their old age. Sort of a primative form of a bank account.
Anyway, from my point of view, enought on this subject. I will concede that you have a higher, more positive, 'view' of humankind than I do.
Bye for now!!!

# Nora says :
13 July, 2009 [ 18:18 ]

Must I remind all ..the subject is "250 Children have died "  it is not about fertility.It is too easy to say "just don't have children" because we have a moral obligation to help and force the Gov. to take the proper actions to stop this . One child is too many ,that child may be  the next neurosugeon that may have to operate on your brains or your children's brains. So lets bring solutions how about donating some coats? 

# Chris says :
13 July, 2009 [ 19:48 ]

Abortion is the answer.  Typical American solution.  The USA has the same solution for marriage - they abort it by divorce.  

 

Americans shut up and go home.  Peru does not need your family killing, big government-focused solutions for people who cannot afford warm blankets.

 

American's ought to solve their own problems first.  Like paying for things that you bought on credit  Or stop dyeing from being overweight.  With all your problems, maybe you can abort yourselves - it's not too late.  Quick pass a law to make it legal.

# Ernesto Gonzales says :
13 July, 2009 [ 20:00 ]

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# ExpatPeru says :
13 July, 2009 [ 20:13 ]

Actually, Martin, the parent and children relation is all about teaching and learning. The carpenter will pass on his knowledge and experience to his son in order to be sucessfull and support a family. The mother will teach all about good values and how to educate children, so that she can be a good mother. Call it primitive, but it's essential. In this specific case, the change of climate is breaking that circle. Who's to blame? Them, or the ones responsible for this climatic change?

# Jose says :
13 July, 2009 [ 20:26 ]

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# Rene says :
13 July, 2009 [ 21:42 ]

Regarding the article, it is of course nonsense that they immediately blame climate change. Why can it not be just a cold winter? A statictical anomality? One can only start blaming climate change if there is a clear trend of things getting worse for a few decades.

As far as solutions go... what about relocating to a lower, warmer region? If they don't want to, fine, they're free to choose, but then stop begging for help. If they are willing to relocate, the government can assist them to rebuild their house and to start up. There is nothing at those high altitudes that they wouldn't be able to do at lower altitudes.

# Hans Coutlier says :
13 July, 2009 [ 21:51 ]

Rene is right. I think it is clear that the true culprit here is Humala and his friends Evo and Hugo. Think about it, who has most to gain?

# ExpatPeru says :
13 July, 2009 [ 22:00 ]

Rene, before, summers in Lima were hot like hell. Every single day there was sun. Nowadays, summers aren't that hot anymore and there's more drizzle and even rain showers. In the 90s, horses would take you to the snow line of Pastarouri in Huaraz, now, you have to climb a rope to get to the snow. If you can't see the change of climate, you're simply ignorant.

# darren says :
13 July, 2009 [ 22:53 ]

This wonderfull site that gives information, is being abused by so called educated people as a place to bitch about there political bias ,

Peru is a wonderfull country to visit and a very hard place to live for the majority of the people, but go to ancon on a weekend in summer and you see happy smiling people making the best of the time they have befor they go back to the hard job of looking after themselves .

It is very easy for people who have a regular income or live in the more wealthy parts of the lima or the rest of the world to have clever ideas ,look around you! You  are lucky to be where you are with the things you have dont slag off people who are worse off than you ! because as we have all seen  you only need another bank to get gready and we will all be  be on wellfare benifits,politics are for people who have the time and the money to stand and talk  stop slagging off  each other trying to look clever I am a gringo and yes i live abroad 

# Rene says :
13 July, 2009 [ 23:36 ]

ExpatPeru, nowhere I have stated that climate change is a myth. I actually believe climate change is a very serious problem. And yes, I even believe the most recent climate changes are accelerated by human action. But from a scientific/statistical point of view the statement from the "climate experts" as given in this article is completely pointless.  

"Climate experts blame it on the global warmth," Global warmth??? Global warmth causes icy cold temperatures? I'll take that as a translation error.

"which might have" so they aren't very sure about it

"modified the region's usual weather patterns and averages, with temperatures dropping to -20°C (-4°F) in some regions" that the minimum happens to be lower from one year over another doesn't necessarily change the usual weather patterns or averages. It just happened to be freeking cold this year and winter started early this year compared to 2008. But how often has that happened in last so many years? Is is happening more frequently? What else has changed about the weather pattern. Has the average dropped or risen over the past 10-20 years? Are there more extremes? That is relevant information when determining if there is a profound effect measurable in that region. You don't notice climate change from 2008 to 2009.

Another factor that makes climate more complex in Peru are the phenomena of el Nino and la Nina. Makes it hard to predict what the weather will be like.

Regarding Lima, I don't know how long you've lived there, but to my knowledge and my Peruvian family's knowledge Lima has always been known for moderate temperatures and lots of fog. So I don't know where that hot, sunny climate comes from. The cold humboldt has been around for some time already...

# GW Bush says :
14 July, 2009 [ 03:52 ]

Have they not heard of central heating?

# Mike Weaver says :
14 July, 2009 [ 04:07 ]

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LivinginPeru.com reserves the right to delete any comment containing profanity, political propaganda, spam, insulting language or anything else the editors of this site feel to be in any way offensive. To avoid comment deletion, please use good judgment and try to be respectful of other LiP readers.
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# Mike Weaver says :
14 July, 2009 [ 04:09 ]

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Thank you
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# Chicochick says :
14 July, 2009 [ 09:10 ]

Ha Ha Ha, Ja Ja,Ja....Martin...Sometimes I wish our US Captilist government would go away too. Food stamps our only for those who qualify for them. If you are poor enough you can apply for the free Food allocation card.Would somebody please explain how much employed Peruvians pay in income tax from their employment resources?When we go to Peru I see people struggling to make ends meet just like we North Americans do.You have the rich and the poor worldwide.I contributed to charities and think its only right to help the poor innocent children in Peru and worldwide,equally,when you can.

# Mike says :
14 July, 2009 [ 09:51 ]

Martin, Chicochik,

Peru might actually be able to have programs like food stamps if they could make the people pay taxes. So many work informally - these people are stealing from the rest by not paying taxes.

# Martin says :
14 July, 2009 [ 10:06 ]

Peru has a government office that is supposed to help people during times of natural 'disaster'. I would place a cold winter in the highlands in that category.
 
Near the entrance to the Miraflores City Hall there is a collection point for warm clothing, etc. for the folks in the sierra. This is for the present crisis.

My point is that teams should be sent to the sierra to explain to the people that in future years, when there are cold winters, their children will suffer if charitable donations and the goverment does not step in to
help. Having smaller families means that there will be more to go around for each individual - whether it is clothing or decent food.

For progress, living with "ayeuda" - "help me" must change. What is needed is education and cultural change. 

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