Peru survivors struggling for shelter

Father Jose Manuel, a Catholic priest based in Ica, Peru, is helping survivors rebuild their lives after a massive earthquake destroyed their homes and claimed more than 500 lives. He runs a medical project called Health Houses which is supported by the UK development agency Christian Aid and is frustrated that survivors are still sleeping on the streets more than two weeks after the quake.

There is water and there is electricity. What matters now is housing.

All the mud brick houses have crashed to the ground. Some people have started to rebuild with the mud bricks, and that is a big problem.

People in Ica have to fight hard for survival, here queuing for bread

They are rebuilding with the same bricks that fell down and they should not.

We are all worried about this, but we need to be able to offer them an alternative, and be clear what this is.

We need to work out with engineers what kind of interim solution we can give them.

Meanwhile, there are very few tents. I think about just 60 tents in total have arrived here for distribution, but 60 fancy tents.

See map of the affected area

These tents are more expensive, and because they are expensive, far fewer arrive here.

We are trying to find the most economical ways to help so that we can help more people.

Aid is arriving from many different places, and so now it is a case of not only giving aid for the communal kitchens, but also trying to think about what type of housing can people live in while they wait for the reconstruction to start?

Some people are still just sleeping on the ground - bit by bit we are giving out mattresses and blankets, but it is nowhere near being enough to cover everyone's needs Fr Jose Manuel

Prefabricated wooden houses, or houses made of quiccha - straw and wood mixed with mud - is one idea.

It is a material they have used historically here as well.

We have chosen to work in the countryside where less aid is arriving.

One serious problem that we have not managed to solve yet is that there is not any straw matting to buy.

We have had to make do with strong, durable, plastic sheeting - this is what people are using to make temporary shelter for themselves.

But with this they are not very protected from the cold. It is very cold at the moment, especially at night.

And some people are still just sleeping on the ground.

Bit by bit we are giving out mattresses and blankets, but it is nowhere near being enough to cover everyone's needs.

Hygiene issues

We are also hoping that latrines will come - that is another problem. We are looking for an expert in latrines.

We need to look at issues of hygiene for these communities.

There are health problems: breathing problems, problems with eyes - there is so much dust, and yes stomach problems too.

There is another thing that we are trying to do.

Many people have to live in makeshift accommodation

Not only care for physical problems, but also the emotional health of the people who have lost their homes.

People are very traumatised.

Christian Aid has helped us with psychologists, and they have paid for clowns, to try to lift children's morale.

We need it. People need to offload; people need somebody to listen to them.

One thing that has been interesting about this disaster is that despite the local "boom" in agro-industry, the authorities are discovering the immense poverty in which many people live.

The wealth from agro-industry does not filter down to the poor.

The other day, the president of congress was talking about reconstruction, and saying we shall have a huge mega-airport, we shall build a modern motorway into Ica.

But listen, we do not need a mega-airport; we do not need the best ever roads, what we need is a dignified, safe life.

Father Jose's diary: Earthquake strikes

EARTHQUAKE DISASTER ZONE, AND TECTONIC PLATES

Earthquake struck on 15 August at 1841 local time

The 8.0-magnitude earthquake was centred just off the coast of Peru

Two tectonic plates clash at this region, the Nazca plate and the South American plate

There is about 7-8cm (3in) movement between the plates a year

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