Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-ir) -- The South Reconstruction Fund (FORSUR), the organization set up by Peru's government to administer funds and organize the reconstruction projects for the areas affected by the August 15 earthquake, has been blamed by many for the lack of progress on rebuilding the affected regions.

FORSUR has been criticized by people ranging from the earthquake victims to the members of the committee itself.

After three of its members quit, FORSUR reduced its board of directors to ten members this week - there were previously nineteen.

There are regional presidents that want to blame FORSUR for their lack of progress, they have forgotten that they are the ones responsible for rebuilding their regions, said Julio Favre, the president of FORSUR.

Peru's Minister of Housing, Hernán Garrido Lecca has moved to the city of Pisco to move along the reconstruction of the city as well as projects in Chincha, Ica and Cañete.

Despite the fact that FORSUR has been criticized, the work the organization was entrusted to do has not stopped, especially since there is funding from the World Bank and other international organizations, affirmed Favre.

He explained that FORSUR had been created to support the regional governments in the reconstruction of their regions and was not present to disturb authorities. Favre stated that despite this, there was constant criticism from the regional president of Ica, Rómulo Triveño.

Triveño is to head a national strike next week, representing earthquake victims in Ica.