Peruvian quake victims peeved at Garcia

It has been two years since a major earthquake shook Peru and cost the lives of at least 500 people. The city of Pisco was left in ruins as thousands of people were homeless. Relief efforts were slow to come by with the exception of some political propaganda/foreign aid.

Since then, rebuilding in the affected area has been woefully slow despite promises by the Peruvian government. "We get lots of promises from our government, but nothing happens" said one local who symbolizes the growing anger in the area against President Alan Garcia. Tensions came to a boil last week when anti-Garcia protests became violent:

On Saturday, riot police used tear gas to disperse protesters who had blocked a section of the Pan-American highway leading to Pisco.

Demonstrators pelted police with stones…

Only 25% of the planned reconstruction has taken place in Pisco, the worst-hit town in the area, our correspondent says.

Some 40,000 people in the region are still living in tent cities or one-room pre-fabricated shacks.

Many local residents say millions of dollars in reconstruction funds have never reached them, accusing officials of corruption and inefficiency.

Garcia’s folly has turned into an advantage for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Pisco residents have praised the Venezuelan leader after his government paid for the construction of 100 three-bedroom homes which were subsequently distributed for free.

Image- Christian Science Monitor (“Making do: One-year-old Augusto Martin Hernandez plays near a tent on a soccer field where he now lives with his grandmother.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, BBC News, FT.com