PERU, August 22, 2007 — Last week’s earthquake in Peru took the lives of relatives of two members of staff of the Bible Society. The Society’s offices in Lima, meanwhile, have been turned into a collection point for humanitarian aid which the Society is distributing to the people affected via the Salvation Army.
The two personnel with relatives among the 500 killed were the Society’s cashier, who lost an uncle, and Abelardo Arista, the husband of Haydee Arista, a Management Consultant with the UBS Caribbean and North America Area. Mr Arista lost a nephew who worked in a hotel in Pisco, one of the worst- affected cities in the region, south of Lima, where the earthquake struck. The nephew had five children aged between three and 17.
The Society’s response to the disaster was rapid. By Saturday (August 18), three days after the quake, it had sent out 1000 blankets and 4000 copies of the Scripture Portion in Spanish entitled (in English) God is our Refuge and Strength. These have been distributed via the Salvation Army because of the restrictions imposed on access to the worst affected areas. The Society also plans to send out other Portions that it has in stock that will be helpful in the circumstances.
Pablo Gutierrez, the Society’s Marketing Coordinator, said that as far as they could tell there was no serious structural damage to Bible House – though some cracks had appeared in the warehouse floor – and no structural damage to the homes of members of staff.
Melvin Rivera, UBS Americas Area Secretary, is asking for support in prayer and contributions.
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