FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
 
OTTAWA, March 23, 2017 - : The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) is appealing to our generous supporters to assist members of Peru's co-operatives affected by intensive flooding. As you may have seen and heard several regions of Peru are in a state of emergency due to excessive rains caused by the El Niño phenomena. The country has not seen rain like this since 1998, resulting in extreme flooding, the destruction of infrastructure, limited access to water (both potable and otherwise), death, injury, and the destruction of homes and crops. The rains are expected to continue until mid-late April.   
 
We have a long history of working in Peru. Since 2010, in partnership with the Canadian Co-operative Association, we have worked with Norandino, a co-operative with members located in seven regions of northern Peru, including Piura. Norandino is a co-operative of small producers of panela, coffee and cacao who strive to decrease family poverty and improve community resiliency.

We are pleased to say that all of our Peruvian colleagues are safe; however, many co-op members and residents in the communities they serve have been affected by the flooding. We have heard from Norandino that there have been increased cases of dengue and members have lost and damaged products due to flooding in the co-operatives. Homes have been destroyed and roads have been washed out. Most recently, one of the main roads leaving the city of Piura with access to several of Norandino's members now has a river crossing it, preventing passage.     
 
Many relief agencies are responding quickly to meet immediate needs for food, water and shelter. CDF is focusing on longer term recovery to enable co-operatives to rebuild damaged buildings and restore services to their members. CDF support will be important in restoring co-op businesses, crops and livelihoods.  We need your assistance today!
 
Donations can be made online ,  by phone at 866.266.7677 ext. 605,  or by mail to the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada, 275 Bank Street, Suite 400, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2L6. Please indicate that your donation is designated for the PERU FLOOD RECONSTRUCTION.
 
CDF will continue to send out updates as information arrives from our partner and our plans to rebuild solidify . Thank you for taking the time to read this important message and for making a donation today.
 
Co-operatively yours,
 
David Dern 
Manager, Fundraising
Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF)
(613) 238-6711 ext. 219


 The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) is a registered charitable organization. It raises money, mostly from Canadian co-operatives and co-op members to help alleviate poverty by building and strengthening financial and non-financial co-ops in developing countries. Working with the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and other partners, it helps poor communities fight poverty and create more secure lives through community-owned co-ops. 

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA)
is a not-for-profit co-operative which establishes and strengthens co-operatives, credit unions and community-based organizations to reduce poverty, build sustainable livelihoods and improve civil society in less developed countries. CCA proudly delivers programs for the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) and other organizations which help communities fight poverty and create more secure lives through community-owned
co-ops.