The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has opened a mailbox to collect money for relief efforts following Wednesday’s earthquake in southern Peru. As of Thursday afternoon, some 450 people had been reported killed and 1,500 injured by the quake that registered 8.0 on the Richter scale, according to the United Nations. The JDC is working with the Peruvian Jewish community and other disaster relief agencies in the regions to assess needs, and the money collected by JDC will go to help victims on a non-sectarian basis. According to the Jerusalem Post, there had been no injuries reported in the 3,000 member Jewish community in Lima nor to the 130 or so Israelis now in Peru.
JDC collected $19.6 million for the relief effort following the tsumani in Southeast Asia in 2004 and $800,000 for the Pakistani earthquake in 2005.
“Our hearts and our hands go out to victims who are suffering. As always, the JDC will mobilize all our efforts to help those in need,†said Steve Schwager, JDC’s executive vice president.
To make a donation, send checks payable to Peru Earthquake Relief and mail them P.O. Box 530, 132 East 43rd St. New York, NY, 10017.
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