The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, continued her visit in Peru today touring sites in various communities affected by the severe earthquake last August.

She visited the CARE emergency Assistance project in Sunampe. This project has provided assistance to 250 families who were victims of the earthquake.

Minister Oda also toured one of the eight schools in Chincha Baja that were rebuilt with the support of the Government of Canada and other partners . Fifteen classrooms were rebuilt since the earthquake. In the earthquake-affected zones of Chincha and Ica, she visited a CIDA-funded project providing books to children and access to a safe space to continue learning.

The Minister met with four key Canadian / International earthquake response partners - CARE, WUSC, the World Bank and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to discuss the challenges faced by Peru in responding over the long term to the needs of earthquake victims.

The Government of Canada has provided $2 million in emergency assistance, in all. More than 20,000 Peruvians are receiving assistance from Canada to help rebuild their lives.