The cold spell has hit indigenous communities hardest

At least 70 children have died during a spell of freezing weather in the
Andean regions of Peru, officials have said.

The children, all under five years old, died of pneumonia and other
respiratory illnesses over the past three months.

They lived in rural areas at high altitude, where temperatures in some
cases are reported to have plummeted to as low as -20C (-4F).

Peruvian Health Minister Carlos Vallejos said almost 2,000 medics had
been deployed in the affected areas.

He told the BBC he expected the situation to get worse before it improves.

The National Civil Defence Institute (Indeci) has launched a campaign to
provide clothing and shelter to the worst affected areas.

The institute's General Luis Salomino said he had collected 300 metric
tons of clothes and other supplies from businesses, individuals and
government departments in the capital, Lima.

Forecasters in Peru are predicting the cold spell will continue until
September.

Even low-lying jungle regions are facing unusually cold weather, with
temperatures dropping to 10C (50F).

Many adults have also died during the harsh winter, and thousands of
people are suffering from pneumonia and other respiratory infections.

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