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K9 Rescue Team Claims Peru's Government is not Distributing Provisions

(LIP-ir) -- Members of the special NGO rescue team, K9 de Creixell, sent to Peru by Spain, helped and assisted in the effort to locate and aid survivors of the magnitude-8 earthquake that destroyed Pisco City on August 15.

Now in Argentina, rescue team members, which stayed in Pisco for four days, claim that Peru's government is not distributing the provisions which are being sent to the affected regions from all over the world.

It was also reported that the death toll is well over 540, due to the fact that there are areas where no one has gone.

According to Peruvian newspaper Peru21, Pedro Frutos made statements to media in Argentina, "Peru has received a lot of aid from Japan, European countries and Latin America, but Peruvian authorities are not distributing the products to those in need, they just distribute some of the provisions in the center of Pisco (city) and store the rest in military airports."

The Peruvian daily also reported that Frutos, accompanied by José García, María Márques, Pablo Martínez, and Paulo Leite, had to leave after 4 days of service because of safety reasons. Yesterday, they all arrived to El Plumerillo airport in Argentina, which has offered the use of its facilities to aid during the disaster.

"We didn't see the amount of supplies we unloaded from the planes distributed to the people. We want to know where that food goes and who distributes it," stated the rescue team member to reporters.

Peru21 reported that the rescue team members quoted Peru's President as saying "whoever is afraid - can leave Peru." This was stated by the President after the team members had escaped a shootout and asked the President if safety measures would be provided for the rescue team.

The rescue team member also stated that there were areas where Peru's government did not allow them to go. "There are places where no one has gone. I don't know if the government is afraid we are going to discover something, but there are areas which are restricted."

It was also reported that the rescue team had stated that there wasn't water and that people were fighting for half a bottle of water. "There isn't any water and it was embarrassing for us to give the (rescue) dogs water in front of people".

The group arrived to Pisco with 5 dogs; 3 to find survivors and 2 to locate dead bodies.

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# DLW says :
23 August, 2007 [ 09:31 ]

This sounds like Span sent us experts in criticism and not search and rescue. If they were doing their jobs, looking for trapped people, where did they get the time to be looking into the exact where a bouts of the food distribution?

Anyone that has worked around disaster areas knows it is not a safe area. Both the environment and the people are at high level of tension and disruption. Why should these people have more protection then the local residents who are the injured?

 

For all those who are criticizing the speed that the president reacted. Could you have done better? I don’t think so.

 

Where were all you experts between the time the earthquake hit and the presidents first speech? Probably sitting in your home watching TV so that you could find out what has happened. I will bet none of you went to the store and bought bottled water, because maybe our water system may also have been damaged.

# americorps says :
23 August, 2007 [ 10:33 ]

I see spain and mexico telling me the same thing as my friend in Pisco,

distribution is not reaching many, not organized and the quantities actually being handed out do not match the quantities the government says are being handed out.

The rescue and recovery efforts are not very effecient because of lack of communication, cooperation and control issues.

I am concerned and hope this is tracked carefully and if what people are saying is true, I expect some serious consequences for any civil servant invovled, from the ground level to the President.

I am not saying nothing is being done, I am saying it needs to improve and it needs to improve today, not next week.

# DLW says :
23 August, 2007 [ 18:24 ]

Please understand. If my job is to provide search and rescue, then I don’t have time to do all these things both Spain and Mexico seem to be observing, let alone spend the time to express my views on the local television just because I don’t like how the government has responded. I do not know what your friend’s responsibilities are so I can not comment on what he has said to you.

 

Who is producing the figures that distribution is not reaching many? If they have time to count and survey the people not getting the distribution, why are they not helping get the supplies to them?

 

Not Organized. To who’s standards? You organize a party weeks in advance and when the time arrives, you are short cups, have too much ice etc. etc.  Instead of criticizing them you should be preparing a ceremony to award them for their efforts in trying to do the right thing, and maybe next time more people will run to the aid of others, instead of standing back so that they won’t be the ones being criticized.

 

Quantities: Do you realize that the incoming amount is presented by the gross weight so that it looks good for the sender. Now take all the packing, pallets, wrapping and securing equipment away from that ton and you now probably have only 750 kg lft that is available to be handed out.

 The rescue and recovery efforts are not very efficient because of lack of communication, cooperation and control issues. That is the problem with Spain and Mexico, They are not the boss here, they, are the helper. When in Rome do as the Romans do. Our way works best for us. If you want to come back in 6 months and give us class’s on how to improve, do it, but don’t be a problem in the middle of this problem. It just takes effort that should be spent on something else, probably more important, away from the present manpower. Why do you pass all the problems that are occurring up to the president? Just try to pass a verbal message down a line of ten people and see if you message is what you said?? It never is, and sometimes you wonder what planet they got the message from, because it is not even close to what you said. Why am I sticking up for all the people in the responsible position? Because, I have been there and made mistakes. I have also made many correct decisions, but nobody talks about correct ones only the mistakes with their 20-20 hind site. 

In General I see this progressing normally in the big picture. Years from now there will still be people that feel they did not get as much support as the others or that they were left out. It appears that the big crooks are being caught and lots of the little ones will get away.

# americorps says :
24 August, 2007 [ 10:40 ]

DLW,

There are many things you say I agree with, and some things that distrub me greatly.

All rescuers are heroes and while mistakes are made, I am not trying to second guess what decision they made..I am trying to make sure people are accountable and learn from their mistakes so next time this happens, things will be better...that is the responsibility of a good society.

I have been involved with disaster relief since the early 1980's and yes, I know that pang of feeling not appreciated when you hear it..but with my experience, I have grown to undrestand that the hard questions MUST BE ASKED so things improve. 

I appreciate and respect and admire every single volunteer and government worker (except for the thieves caught taking the donations) and consider them heroes.

I also know there are many dedicated people doing a lot of work and the people of the area are not just being ignored.

But..

I also know that the press releases from the office of the President that everything is under control and ayokay is nonsense.

The thing you said that disturbs me is..when in Rome...

I will fault you personally for that, and every rescue coordinator that feels the way you do.  Some of these people simply have more experience than you and it is not a time for personal pride, it is a time for putting your personal feelings aside to help others.  The folks in Mexico are simply amung the best in the world and I have seen them work.  I do not care one bit if anyone'e ego is bruised while they try to pull a child from under a house..I only care about that child having a chance for life...anything less is inhumane.

I love Peru and I think your government did not fail totally, but that does not mean there is not room for criticism..I can not stress it enough, this is about improving things to save lives for the future, not emotional baggage...and the questions need to be asked in real time, not months after the fact when pinpointing what went wrong becomes more difficult.  Lives are in the balance.

I have made my share of mistakes, and I do not want to make them again..I would rather hear criticism and use that as a tool to improve than just defend myself because my intentions were good and make the same mistakes again..hurting people.

I hope you want the same.

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