Peru Earthquake Update: Loss, Needed Aid and Citizen Safety

Counting the quake damage to Peru's historic sites (Seattle Times): "Historic churches and colonial-era haciendas along Peru's southern coast suffered serious damage in last month's deadly earthquake. The quake badly damaged at least 173 churches, monuments and historic buildings, with about one-third completely destroyed, said the director of the state-run National Culture Institute, Cecilia Bakula."

However, the Nazca lines were unaffected. Sightseeing trips to the Islas Ballestas, Peru's ecological islands likened to the Galapagos, have resumed, but the "Paracas National Reserve, ...is still unsafe to visit after the quake shook rocks off coastal bluffs. Most of the arched rock formation in the reserve, known as 'The Cathedral, came tumbling down."

In other news from the area, 1,000 Military Troops and Police Officers Maintain Peace in Ica, Peru (Living in Peru): "According to Peru's Andina News Agency, Peru's Prime Minister, Jorge del Castillo announced yesterday that the number of Peru's National Police officers and military troops would not be reduced in the regions which were affected by the earthquake on August 15. Del Castillo stated that the officers and troops would remain in the provinces to ensure citizen safety during the reconstruction of the cities."

Peru still badly needing aid; church responds (Mission Network News): "A United Nations official says 200,000 quake survivors still urgently need emergency help in Peru. The U.N. goes on to say they need at least US$37 million more in donations to sustain relief efforts."