This June 29th will be the first family drill without leaving home. "Earthquakes do not understand pandemics, we must all be prepared", highlights INDECI. There will be international participation.
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 8.8, followed by a tsunami affecting the central coast of Peru, especially Lima, Ica, Callao and Ancash, is what is foreseen as a possibility in our country, and for which the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) is preparing a family drill, which will help to improve the national response capacity.
SIMULATION EXERCISES
To strengthen these preventive actions, via simulation exercises in the event of a large earthquake and tsunami, a virtual event will be held from today (June 21) and for five days, with the participation of specialists from national and international organizations.
"The objective of the exercise is focused on putting into practice the coordination of the response between national and international actors in support of a country affected by a sudden large-scale disaster," said Major General (r) Alfredo Murgueytio Espinoza, head of INDECI.
He explained that the scenario will be an 8.8 Mw earthquake followed by a tsunami affecting the central coast of Peru with intensities that will mainly affect Lima, Ica, Callao and Ancash. He announced that, so far, the participation of delegations from 18 countries has been confirmed.
Teams made up of health professionals (medical and nursing personnel, physiotherapists, paramedics, etc.) who directly provide clinical care to populations affected by emergencies will participate. In addition, state-of-the-art equipment will be available.
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION
Murgueytio Espinoza explained that, by agreement of the United Nations General Assembly, Peru is part of the International Humanitarian System, which is responsible for coordinating international humanitarian cooperation mobilized in support of affected countries.
He also noted that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is responsible for coordinating the response to emergencies at the global level to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises.
As part of the first response, OCHA has teams that are deployed in less than 48 hours at the request of the affected country.