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 the global coronovirus pandemic. Although she, like many on the Virgen de Lourdes settlement on the outskirts of Lima, does not have access to running water at home.

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

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

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

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

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

Ruiz said what she receives from the water truck is not enough for her daily needs.

The United Nations reported in 2019 that around 25 million people in Latin America do not have access to a safe water supply.

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

"Clearly, we will suffer, if that sickness (COVID-19) arrives here, how we will defend if there is no water friend? We do not have water," Said Carlos Ramos Huayta, who works as a bricklayer and follows the news about the virus outbreak.

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

The disease can cause varying degrees of illness and is especially troublesome for older adults 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 the vast majority recovering from the virus.

According to the 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 the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed, but more than 60,000 already have recovered.