What’s true in Peru

“Peruvian Jews move to Israel to flee COVID-19 and street riots” (June 17) uses language, qualifiers and distorted descriptions that do not conform to the real situation that is being experienced in my country. Its content exhibits a total lack of knowledge of Peru’s recent history and is disrespectful to a population that is suffering with much sacrifice from a health crisis from which no nation has been spared.

The author of the article, Marcus Gilban, who resides in Rio de Janeiro, uses the word “flee” in the title of his article based on expressions such as “lagging economy,” “street riots” and “food shortage,” which may lead the reader to think that, due to the situation, Peru is a country from which one must escape.

The article quotes the representative of the International Community of Christians and Jews of Latin America, Gustavo Gakman, resident in Israel, who says that in Peru there is a “very high state of tension” and that it is “a country that was already in a state of financial calamity even before the pandemic,” which shows a lack of knowledge of the Peruvian reality.

Peru has not been oblivious to the negative effects of the pandemic crisis, whose impact has been reflected in the health system and in the economy of the population and sectors of the country’s economic activity. The government has implemented a comprehensive economic relief and containment program to protect the vulnerable population, providing support to private enterprises and implementing a series of economic support measures for citizens and private sector, reflected in effective bonds, deferred tax payments, credit guarantees, among others.

Moreover, members of the armed forces, police personnel and medical staff are on the front line, facing an invisible enemy that does not distinguish between socio-economic levels.

Peru is one of the few countries in Latin America that has been growing steadily for 20 years, at an annual average of 4%. Throughout successive governments, a prudent and sustained macroeconomic policy has been maintained, which has made it possible to significantly reduce poverty rates and generate employment. The measures implemented by the Peruvian government to address the negative effects of the COVID19 pandemic have been made possible precisely by the positive economic and financial performance of Peru. To claim that there are “street riots” in Peru due to food shortages and to portray the country with a calamitous picture is not only false, but also denigrating and inappropriate.

In expressing to you my absolute respect for freedom of expression, which must be exercised in a responsible manner, I should be grateful if you would make this communication public so that your readers may have a better idea of what is really happening in my country. CARLOS DANIEL CHAVEZ-TAFFUR SCHMIDT

Peruvian Ambassador

Deep surprise and discomfort were generated in our community by the article describing the situation of the Jewish community in Peru in terms that do not conform with reality.

It is true that despite the enormous efforts of our government, the country is going through an extremely difficult time and that the pandemic has had a very hard impact on the health and economy of citizens, especially affecting our low-income compatriots. It is true that there is difficulty in finding some medicines, but there is no looting in the streets, as the article describes.

Members of the Jewish community are also affected, but community aid institutions operate in such a way that we are serving the needs of our most vulnerable members, including during the quarantine ordered by the authorities. With much effort, the community is