Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and local leaders are rallying together in relief efforts after recent flooding and landslides in Arequipa, Peru.
On Thursday, February 19, heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, inundating several areas of cities in southern Peru. Significant damage was caused, according to a Feb. 21 news release from the church’s Peru Newsroom.
Local church leaders gathered volunteer volunteers throughout the night to assist families whose homes were severely damaged in the landslide. Volunteers from the Arequipa Peru Humacoro Stake rallied to provide aid throughout the affected area.
“In response to the emergency, Relief Society began coordinating to provide immediate assistance to the most affected households, many of whom had lost nearly everything they owned,” the news release said.
Many people worked from around 5:30 pm that day until 2 am the next day, helping to evacuate damaged items and recover lost belongings.
At least two people were killed in the flooding, according to a Feb. 20 Associated Press report.
According to a Feb. 23 news release from the Peru Newsroom, early on the morning of Feb. 20, members of the Umacoro Stake Presidency and Relief Society organized a fundraising center to collect and sort donations.
From 9 a.m. to midnight on February 21, local Latter-day Saints and missionaries conducted relief and clean-up efforts to assist families in the Yanawara and Kayima areas.
Heeding the stake presidency’s call for help, volunteers were called in with tools and equipment to remove water, mud, and debris from homes. They also worked to clean and rebuild their homes.
The Feb. 21 cleanup day was divided into two shifts, morning and afternoon, to allow for physical labor and time for the large-scale operation.
The initiative involved supporting approximately 25 young people between the ages of 18 and 35. Members of Centro JAS Arequipa, a local group of churches for young single adults throughout the city, participated in the cleanup and outreach efforts.
According to a Feb. 23 news release, “The community, including those who had no previous contact with the church, appreciated the dedication and willingness of volunteers to seek help in the midst of adversity and provide support and hope in times of need.”
