Peru settlement fights virus without running water

Juana Ruiz, a 64-year-old Peruvian street vendor, says her priority is to wash her hands amidst warnings of global corovirus pandemic. Although she, like many on Virgen de Lourdes settlement on outskirts of Lima, does t have access to running water at home.

" water I buy lasts for three or four days, and n I have to wait for water truck for days" said Ruiz as she bought water from one of few delivery trucks who supply water to hills.

Virgen de Lourdes is one of many settlements in Peru without access to a constant water supply. According to United Nations, over three million lack access to safe water and eight million lack access to improved sanitation in country.

price of water can be three to ten times higher on impoverished settlements compared with price on urban neighbourhoods.

Despite more than 25 years of protest, demanding clean water and basic services, people from Virgen Lourdes continue to be igred by authorities. Ruiz recalled her last time at a rally some 16 years ago; a police officer outside Congress beat her.

According to World Health Organization, from 50 to 100 litres of water are needed to ensure most basic needs per person.

Ruiz said what she receives from water truck is t eugh for her daily needs.

United Nations reported in 2019 that around 25 million people in Latin America do t have access to a safe water supply.

Residents of Virgen de Lourdes are concerned about possible arrival of COVID-19.

"Clearly, we will suffer, if that sickness (COVID-19) arrives here, how we will defend if re is water friend? We do t have water," Said Carlos Ramos Huayta, who works as a bricklayer and follows news about virus outbreak.

local church alrey reported first severe case of COVID-19, a local priest who is in hospital.

disease can cause varying degrees of illness and is especially troublesome for older ults and people with existing health problems, who are at risk of severe effects, including pneumonia.

But for most of those affected, coronavirus creates only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, with vast majority recovering from virus.

According to World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe ailments may take three to six weeks to rebound.

In mainland China, where virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagsed, but more than 60,000 alrey have recovered.