Reader 'Roy' has just left a comment on this previous post about the flooding in the Cusco/highlands region of Peru and I think it's worth sharing with the larger audience. It's written in caps (hey...i didn't write it) but it's definitely worth your time. The last line is exactly right, Roy. Thanks for taking the time out.
IT IS TRAGIC WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE SACRED VALLEY NEAR CUSCO. TODAY01-30-2010 THERE ARE ABOUT 5000 DISPLACED POOR FARMERS, WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT, JUST IN THE SMALL TOWN OF URUBUMBA. ALL OF THEIR HOMES ARE FLOODED ON LOWER LAND. OTHER SMALL TOWNS IN THE VALLEY ABOVE THE HIGH WATER LINE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN ARE TRYING TO FEED THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE MUCH THEMSELVES. THE WHOLE VALLEY JUST HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THEY HAVE HAD TO SELL THEIR CORN CROP AT A LOSS. LAST YEAR A PIECE OF FARM LAND THAT MADE 10,000 SOL, ONLY MADE 2000 SOL IF THEY WERE LUCKY. THE PRICE OF CORN HAS COLLAPSED. MANY FARMERS DIDNT GET BACK THE COST OF PUTTING THE CROPS INTO THE GROUND. I KNOW MANY WHO BORROWED THE MONEY TO PLANT THEIR CORN CROPS. NOW THEY CAN NOT REPAY THE LOANS.
NOW THE REST OF THE FOLKS THERE WHO WORK IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, OR SOON WILL. A LOT OF PARENTS WILL HAVE MUCH DIFFICULTY IN FINDING A FEW SOL TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL IN MARCH. THE LOCAL PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP EACH OTHER, FOR NO ONE ELSE WILL. MANY OF THOSE CUTE KIDS IN THE TOURISTS PHOTOS ARE SLEEPING TONIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN WITH EMPTY STOMACHS.
BUT NOT TO WORRY, THE TOURISTS HAVE BEEN QUICKLY AIRLIFTED OUT OF THIS DISTURBING SIGHT, AND LIMA IS SO FAR AWAY.