Peru — humanitarian situation

Peru faces concurrent humanitarian challenges stemming from a major earthquake in Ayacucho and the continued presence of the world's second-largest Venezuelan refugee population. On 20 August 2026, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck 35 kilometers north of Coracora in Parinacochas province, Ayacucho department, at a depth of 108 kilometers (Cruz Roja Peruana, IFRC). The seismic event was felt across multiple southern regions due to its depth. Initial assessments identified at least three injuries and 116 homes affected or rendered uninhabitable in Upahuacho district alone, with additional structural damage reported in Pullo, Coracora, Chumpi, Puquio, and other districts (Plan International). Ten educational facilities in Ayacucho were also affected (Plan International). In response to earthquake impacts in Junín and to strengthen preparedness for future disasters, UNHCR delivered 15 tons of essential humanitarian supplies to the Peruvian government through INDECI on 19 August, sufficient to support over 6,000 affected people UNHCR. Peru hosts over 1.64 million Venezuelan nationals by the end of 2025, making it the second-largest destination country for Venezuelans forced to flee their country UNHCR. Lima alone hosts over one million Venezuelans, constituting the largest Venezuelan population in any city outside Venezuela. As of December 2025, 556,791 people held asylum-seeker status and 6,818 had received formal refugee recognition, making Peru the country with the second-largest number of Venezuelan asylum-seekers worldwide UNHCR. During the first half of 2026, mobility patterns across Latin America and the Caribbean shifted toward more fragmented and intraregional movements compared to the high-volume northbound transit observed in previous years, reflecting evolving policy environments and changing socioeconomic conditions IOM. UNHCR and partners maintained protection operations in key locations including Lima, Tacna, Tumbes, and Madre de Dios during January-June 2026, providing access to international protection, legal assistance, case management, documentation, health, education, shelter, child protection, and community integration programs for refugees, asylum-seekers, and host communities UNHCR. These transit and destination zones receive targeted support to address protection needs and facilitate integration processes for displaced Venezuelan populations and others requiring international protection.