Chépica
Emergency relief after the earthquake and tsunami in Chile
On 27 February 2010, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale struck off the Chilean coast with the epicentre 115 km (70 miles) north-east of Concepción and 325 km south-west of Santiago. The earthquake as well as the following tsunami claimed almost 500 lives and left about 500,000 people homeless.
Only a few days after the quake Malteser International together with the Chilean Association of the Order of Malta and the Chilean relief service Auxilio Maltés had started to distribute clothes, blankets, food and water treatment tablets to about 1,000 people severely affected by the quake and the tsunami.
- The severe earthquake in February 2010 caused massive destructions like here in Chépica.
- The inauguration ceremony of the new market took place on 6 May with Representatives of the local government. Photo: Auxilio Maltés
- The fishermen and sea shell divers in Tubul received new equipment to earn their living again. Photo: Auxilio Maltés
In Chépica, a village with 14,000 inhabitants located 180 km south of Santiago, Malteser International supports small-scale enterprises in the reconstruction of buildings and workshops. Particularly important to Malteser International is also the psychosocial care for children as more than 70 % of them due to fear - didnt return to school after the quake. A psychologist of the Chilean relief service Auxilio Maltés, will provide psychological care for them during the next two months. Furthermore, a counselling service for people with chronic respiratory diseases will be set up and equipped in a community centre.
In Tubul, 60 km south of Concepción, Malteser International concentrates the relief activities to the fishermen and shelldivers who have lost nearly all their belongings and equipment. Almost every one of the 3,000 inhabitants of the village that is among the most severely affected in Chile, is currently living in a tent.
- Rehabilitation of the infrastructure
- Sustainable rehabilitation of the villages as communities; strengthening unity
- Empowering the village dwellers to become active actors in the reconstruction process
- In the long run ensuring self sustainability of the population; fighting unemployment and poverty
Chepica
- Support of 20 small-scale enterprises
- Reconstruction of infrastructure
- Technical support and consulting
- Support in the site cleaning for 200 houses
- Installation of a counselling centre for people with respiratory diseases and supply with medical devices
- Psycho-social care for children
- Disaster prevention (Sphere Training)
Tubul
- Income generating measures for fishermen (provision with diving equipment, repair of boats)
Lonchoche
- Reconstruction/repair of infrastructure of a residential home for elderly
| Project data: | |
| Dauer: | since February 2010 |
| Finanzierung: | Germany's Relief Coalition (ADH), donations |
| Partner: | Auxilio Maltés, Chilean Association of the Order of Malta |
| Contact | |
| Malteser: | Sonja Greiner |
| info(at)malteser-international.org |
