In the Amazon, these phenomena are becoming more frequent and jeopardize access to safe water for thousands of girls and boys.
👉 How do floods affect the health of Amazonian children?
Heavy rains They have become more frequent due to climate change and cause rivers to overflow and flood communities.
When waters cover public spaces, crops and homes, latrines and wells are destroyed, forcing families to use cloudy and contaminated water for drinking, cooking or washing.
📊 Fact: In districts such as Contamana and Requena, in Loreto, less than 16% of the population centers had access to drinking water (MVCS, 2017).
Children at risk:
- Diarrhea and parasites that affect your health and development.
- Skin and eye infections from contact with contaminated water.
- Schools and nursing homes with poor toilets and little access to safe water.
- Menstruating adolescents exposed to diseases due to lack of clean water.
The consequences are serious:
- Health in danger: Recurrent diseases put the development of boys and girls at risk.
- Affected nutrition: Prolonged diarrhea can lead to malnutrition.
- Education interrupted: Diseases and lack of basic services prevent girls and boys from attending classes.
📍 A real case: Loreto 2025
In May 2025, floods in the districts of Contamana and Requena affected more than 17,000 people.
Many families, including children, had little access to safe water and had to resort directly to using water from rivers like the Ucayali and Pisqui. This led to an increase in cases of diarrhea and skin diseases in children.
⚠️ Flooding may continue to occur.
Ensuring access to water is essential to protecting children.
To protect children, it is key to:
✔️ Ensure permanent access to clean, safe water.
✔️ Deliver humanitarian aid adapted to Amazonian culture.
✔️ Promote good water use and consumption habits in schools and communities.
📊 Fact: Save the Children and DAS Peru have delivered 350 water and humanitarian aid kits in Loreto.
Next to DAS Peru We're delivering humanitarian aid to the hardest-hit communities in Loreto, with food and safe water kits that prioritize the well-being of Amazonian children.
As the world prepares for the #COP30These realities are a reminder that the climate crisis is already affecting the lives of Amazonian children, and it is urgent to act now.