Salvation Army workers distribute emergency supplies to residents of Tocopilla, northern Chile.
SALVATION Army emergency teams are providing ongoing support to people in Tocopilla, northern Chile, who lost their homes in a devastating earthquake. Tocopilla, situated in the Atacama Desert – the most arid desert in the world – is the city most affected by the earthquake which measured 7.7 on the Richter scale and left 15,000 people without homes or basic necessities.
Jaime Garcia, a worker from the local fish plant, told Salvation Army team members that the only thing still standing in his house is the kitchen. 'Now, we will have to start again,' he said. Jaime is one of thousands of people who saw years of sacrifice to build their homes and provide for their families brought to nothing in the 50 seconds that the main quake lasted.
Many people are now living in improvised tents in front of what remains of their homes, desperate to hold on to something of life before the earthquake. Families have begun clearing rubble from their land, often simply leaving it in the streets of Tocopilla, which has been declared a 'disaster zone' by the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet.
The Salvation Army continues working with the people, distributing approximately 300 prepared meals and water daily. Teams are working in and with the community, and have organised community members to help in the preparation and distribution of food.
Lieut-Colonel Susan McMillan, Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army's South America West Territory, says: 'A roster of the most-affected families has been prepared, and bags of non-perishable food, blankets and tents have been distributed to them.'
The Salvation Army has also been providing basic medical care. The officer in charge of Tocopilla Outpost, Captain Clauris Morales, is a nurse. She has been providing first aid, taking blood pressure, and providing injections to those in the community who require this service.
Two Salvation Army officers from central Chile have been flown by the Chilean Air Force to the region, in order to provide some relief to the officers in the north. Major Elba Espinoza and Captain Anabella Archiles will provide support to Captain Morales in Tocopilla while plans are put in place, working closely with the community to replace housing for those families who have lost everything.
