Peru — humanitarian situation

Peru experienced a 5.5 magnitude earthquake on 19 July 2026 near Sicaya, according to monitoring by the United States Geological Survey USGS. The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid office ECHO mapped the event, though no casualty or damage figures specific to Peru have been reported in available documentation. This seismic event occurred amid broader regional disaster activity, including a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia on 10 August that killed 266 people and a double earthquake in Venezuela on 24 June that left 5,300 dead OCHA. Peru continues to serve as a major transit and destination country for mixed migration flows in South America. The International Organization for Migration IOM conducted flow monitoring surveys at the Tumbes and Tacna border points between April and June 2026, though specific figures on migrant numbers were not disclosed in the available excerpt. Regional migration dynamics are being reshaped by policy shifts in destination countries. The United States Supreme Court has approved previously suspended immigration measures, including elimination of certain temporary protected status designations and asylum restrictions at the border, while Chile's President Antonio Kast is advancing comprehensive migration reform (Mixed Migration Centre). The Americas region is experiencing its highest measles caseload in 22 years, with 43,559 confirmed cases reported between January and early July 2026 across 17 countries and territories, representing a 3.8-fold increase over the same period in 2025 PAHO. The Pan American Health Organization has classified the public health risk as very high due to ongoing outbreaks, immunity gaps, and increased population mobility. While Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, and Canada account for 98 percent of confirmed cases, PAHO urged all member states on 8 August to strengthen vaccination coverage, enhance epidemiological surveillance, and ensure rapid outbreak response capacity given the regional spread and occurrence of mass gatherings with international participation.