U.S. Ambassador to Peru Lisa Kenna reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Peru’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HA/DR) needs to Peruvian President Dina Boluarte during the opening ceremony of exercise COOPERATION IX, led by the System for Cooperation among the American Air Forces (SICOFAA) and hosted by the Peruvian Air Force. The May 8 event was led by Defense Minister Jorge Chávez Cresta and was attended by U.S. Air Force Brigadier General David Cochran, commander of the U.S. West Virginia National Guard (WVNG).
Ambassador Kenna highlighted the continued collaboration of the WVNG, which transported to Peru several members of the U.S. military in one of its C-17 aircraft. U.S. service members will share their expertise and best practices in aeromedical evacuation, rescue, and water sanitation to alleviate human suffering. In addition, the C-17 transported an ambulance free of charge for the Peruvian Fire Department, a saving of $10,000, and the WVNG donated 6,000 bottles of water for families affected by Cyclone Yaku.
In addition, the U.S. Embassy, with the support of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), will donate some $100,000 in HA/DR goods to meet the needs of the government of Peru in this area.
In addition, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) increased its contribution to Save the Children by $500,000 to meet the immediate water and sanitation needs of 4,500 households living in government-furnished shelters, including the provision of water tanks and chlorination services for these tanks, cleaning supplies for sanitation facilities, and possible latrine construction.
In the coming weeks, USAID will also increase its grant to the World Food Program by $300,000 to provide critical transportation and logistics support to the government of Peru and the National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI) for the delivery of 1,350 metric tons of humanitarian relief items to flood-affected areas through June 31. In addition, USAID allocated $277,916 for the deployment costs of an Americas Support Team (AST) to assist the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team in Piura and Lambayeque during the last three weeks of April 2023.
The U.S. remains committed to efficient disaster prevention, response, and care in support of Peruvians and we will continue these humanitarian assistance activities that contribute to further strengthening the strong ties of friendship and cooperation that bind Peru and the United States as partners with common values.