Latin American governments have pledged to provide humanitarian aid to Peru after Wednesday's devastating quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale that killed 450 people, injured at least 1,300 and left 80,000 homeless.
Argentina has pledged to send tarpaulins, blankets, medicine and water purifying equipment to Peru, Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana told a press conference Thursday.
Taiana said he had expressed the government's solidarity with Peru to Peruvian President Alan Garcia by telephone. Argentine President Nestor Kirchner has sent a condolence letter after the deadly quake.
Gabriel Fuks, head of the Argentine humanitarian corps, the White Helmets, said aid would reach Peru within 24 hours. The country's social development, health, foreign and defense ministers will monitor events in Peru.
Peru's neighbor Ecuador, which felt the quake but suffered no damage, said it would send aid to the quake-ravaged country, but did not give details.
"The civil defense authorities of our two nations will cooperate," Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador's Civil Defense Minister said in a statement. "It is important for the Peruvian government to know that it can count on us," she added.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sent a message of solidarity to Peru Thursday, offering humanitarian aid, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that Brazil's embassy in Peru would be in close contact with local hospitals.
Bolivia has airlifted 12 tons of food and medicine to Peru, according to Bolivian Defense Minister Walker San Miguel. He also expressed the government's condolences.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said Thursday he was preparing to travel to Peru Sunday to express his personal condolences to President Alan Garcia, and Peruvians in general.
Colombia will offer Peru five tons of aid including food, drinking water, plastic materials, blankets, tarpaulins, medicine and other aid. Uribe said Colombia would also help Peru with rescue efforts.
Colombia's specialist rescue teams are planning to travel to Peru to help in the search-and-rescue operations. The Colombian Red Cross has set up a bank account to receive donations.
Chilean government officials said they would send emergency aid to Peru by a Hercules aircraft and have started consultations to evaluate what the country needs most.
"Chile's National Emergency Office will make contact with its Peruvian counterpart to coordinate the aid Chile can provide to the Peruvian government," said Chilean government spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will speak to her Peruvian counterpart to extend her nation's condolences, Lagos said, adding that Chile has set aside the two nations' diplomatic squabble over maritime territory due to the crisis.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon also conveyed his condolences to President Garcia, the Mexican government said in a statement. Calderon said he would order Mexico's civil defense department to send aid to Peru, it added.
Source: Xinhua
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