Project description

Title: Disaster-preventive reconstruction and rehabilitation in Ica and Huancavelica (COVIPRED)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Peru
Lead executing agency: Regional government of Ica
Overall term: 2008 to 2011

Context

On 15 August 2007, a massive earthquake registering 7.9 on the Richter scale shook a large part of the department (region) of Ica as well as the neighbouring departments of Huancavelica and Lima. Over 500 people died, 13,000 were injured, 90,000 houses were completely destroyed and 44,000 other buildings were severely damaged. Altogether more than 400,000 people lost their homes. Countless schools, hospitals, and health care centres collapsed, and water supply and treatment systems broke down. 

Despite major efforts by the Peruvian Government, it soon became evident that local and regional competence as well as the capacity to deal with the effects of the earthquake were lacking. In addition, emergency measures were not coordinated sufficiently. The collapse of buildings was mainly due to deficient construction, but also resulted from inadequate risk zoning and regional planning. In particular, adobe houses in rural areas are not built to be earthquake-proof and therefore pose a risk to occupants during an earthquake.

Objective

The population and their reconstructed dwellings are better protected against the impact of future disasters.

Approach

The project is being implemented with two strategic approaches at regional and local levels:

• Working with disadvantaged groups, 100 houses are being rebuilt using earthquake-resistant techniques. The work can draw on experiences gained in two earlier GTZ (now GIZ) projects in the Arequipa and Ica regions.
• Local and regional competences and capacities for disaster management are being strengthened. At the same time, risk analysis is being introduced to the authorities’ spatial and socioeconomic development planning.

The project is being carried out in close cooperation with two other reconstruction projects in the region: a Study and Expert Fund (SEF) measure and an EU project being implemented by GIZ International Services. Through these joint efforts, the impact of German and European development cooperation in this area will be increased.