On the 14th of March 2025, Xapiri Ground members Jack Wheeler and Davis Torres travelled to Pucallpa to resume the organization's planned projects with the Shipibo-Konibo and Iskonawa communities. “Upon our arrival, we were faced with the effects of the flooding emergency that had left many in a state of serious need," remarks Jack. "From there, we were then asked by the individuals and families of the above communities to provide immediate recovery and relief support."

As previously highlighted in the Emergency Flood Relief campaign, we asked the support of our Xapiri Ground community to help us through this challenging time. The response from our network was overwhelming and we managed to raise a significant amount of funds which has allowed us to bring aid to various individuals, communities and preparedness initiatives. In this campaign, the power of art came through the voices of the Indigenous artists who helped us generate an effective call to action for the natural disaster that had placed many of them and their communities at risk.

Pucallpa, as a region in the central Peruvian Amazon, has experienced two extreme weather events in a span of 6 months, from the severe fire season in September of 2024 followed by the most extreme flooding in over 15 years in March of 2025, according to the locals we have spoken to there. This creates an extremely vulnerable situation for the region that brings with it both immediate and long-term consequences. From providing supplies such as medicine and other basic needs, we quickly understood that there would be other consequences for the whole year; from health issues related to stagnant and polluted waters, to food security issues resulting from a loss of farms and a loss of jobs. 

Here we highlight a few of the actions that were taken immediately following the campaign...

RECOVERY & RELIEF

We provided recovery support for structural home needs, walking bridges, and canoes for Pecon Quena, Leidy Panduro and their families, with relief support of medicine and food. The canoes would later become known as the ‘canoes of abundance’ as not only were they critical for transport, but essential for fishing and enabling them to resume their work.

“I am Leidy Martinez Panduro, a Shipiba ceramist, I am very grateful to the NGO Xapiri Ground and through them we have received a lot of support in the difficult time we have been through. Thanks to them we have the canoe that is our mobility now, we are in a space where we can sit, with wood, with bridges, food and medicine. Xapiri helped us with the donation and I am very grateful to you who are friends of Xapiri, thank you very much for your support, may God bless you all and may you continue to donate for us, because this does not end here, this is still going on, it is a process, but I am very grateful to you, thank you very much’.”

~Leidy Martinez Panduro, 29th March 2025

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“I am Lastenia Canayo Garcia, my name in Shipibo is Pecon Quena, I am a professional artist and painter. Now I can't work because there was a big flood in my village. So thank God that Xapiri is supporting me a lot, they are supporting me, that until now I can't work but I have works that are ready if someone wants to collaborate with us. Xapiri is helping a lot, thanks to them, we have a canoe and we also have something every day for our food. But there are still a lot of things we need, materials etc.”

~Lastenia Canayo Garcia, 29th March 2025

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With Felix Ochavano Rodríguez, the president of the Iskonawa community, food baskets were provided for 16 Iskonawa families throughout Yarinacocha who had to evacuate their houses from the community of Callería.

We were grateful to Alex Shimpukat Soria (Shipibo-Konibo artist and activist) who organized various communal cooking pots servicing some of the most affected areas in Yarinacocha; Teodoro Binder 2, La Molina, Barrios 22 de Mayo, La Perla, Nueva Era, and Roberto Ruiz. We also collaborated with the Bari Wesna NGO who provided a communal pot for the residents of the Bena Jema community.

In the Shipibo-Konibo community of Paoyhan on the Ucayali river, food and medicinal aid was managed by Ruth Merari Mahua Urquia to benefit the needs of 200 families affected by the floods.

"It was a success, the relief for the parents, the families who were in Paoyhan, were very happy, very grateful, for the medicine, for the food, as they had not counted on the medicine, and it had just arrived when most in need and they were happy for that."

~Ruth Merari Mahua Urquia

“Thanks once again to Xapiri, to all the friends who have made it possible for all these supplies to reach our community of Paoyhan, thanks to all the allies of Xapiri who have made it possible for this donation to arrive, Thank you very much, Irake!”

~Neyl Cairuna Tutusima, president of the Paoyhan community, 28th March 2025

We also supplied food and medicine relief to the Kukama community of San Martín de Tipishca, located in the Loreto region, through our friend Wendy Ruiz (anthropologist) who served as a bridge to the people's needs.

As a result of the many photographs, videos, and testimonials that we had shared through our newsletter and social channels online, we raised the attention of Peru's major daily newspaper ‘La Republica’ who published an article based on our eye-witness account. It is our hope that this article helped to raise further awareness for the people, the regional and national governments towards an extreme condition that had little to no coverage in the national news channels.

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A PLAN FOR PREPAREDNESS

As a response to the extreme flood situation, president Felix Ochavano Rodríguez of the Organization for the Development and Common Good of the Iskonawa People (ODEBPI) had brought to our attention a plan that he’d been developing around food security and intrinsic agriculture practices from his Iskonawa heritage. His project would help provide for the needs of approximately 20 Iskonawa families through the development of a communal farm in their territory of Chachibai which is located in the department of Ucayali about 5-6 hours by boat from Pucallpa. 

Through what we had witnessed together as a result of this flooding disaster, we knew that the funds from this campaign would have to see into the future. We asked ourselves how we could be instrumental in developing some sort of preparedness for what would and could ensue. After putting our heads together, we at Xapiri Ground together with Felix Ochavano Rodríguez have agreed to support his community with this project, which by and large aids them in determining their own future and history in their territory of Chachibai.

Chachibai is situated at a slightly higher altitude than its neighboring districts like Callería and Pucallpa, meaning it does not get as badly affected by seasonal flooding. And so, after a series of meetings and discussions with the Iskonawa people and most especially their leader, Felix Ochavano Rodríguez, the communal farm would be managed between the members of the Iskonawa community, with the vision to improve their food security today and into the future. 

“Since the very first moments between Xapiri and our community, the Iskonawa brothers, sisters, and artisans, have all become friends and allies through the work of art. Developing with Xapiri has granted us initiative and enabled us to receive some support through these donations during March and April, which were very difficult times for many communities and the Iskonawa population. Because of the natural disaster, we needed a lot of help for food, medicine and other basic needs at the time, and with the help of the donations received through Xapiri we were able to put food on the table and for other families too. It was a huge help, and we were very grateful.

Due to the emergency we had in April, where the rising of the Ucayali river flooded the houses and our crops, we saw it is necessary to make a communal farm. After putting this into consideration, it was decided that we would perform this communal work in our community of Chachibai. From the donation received, we have purchased materials for the farm; including tools, gasoline, machetes and more for the first stage of the farm installation. 

We, the Iskonawa people, are ready to work, to prepare the farm, and with these much needed materials, we will grow this farm where vegetables, fruits and consumables will be planted. While once we would have bought the food, from here on out will be provided for by the communal farm making it more sustainable. By planting the crops that will produce at different times makes them harvestable by the families, products such as cassava, bananas, medicinal plants, timber, and craft materials that will be used by the artisans themselves. In short, the population is very grateful for the support in all of this. 

In this month of May, we are continuing the work to get ready for planting, to make this communal farm a reality. This activity has allowed us to come together at this time, and work for the benefit of the community, for these crops will help us for the immediate and long term. I personally feel very grateful for the support and willingness of Xapiri to be here in the Ucayali, in Yarinacocha and Chachibai. We, as leaders, have fought hard for the welfare to reach our community. And as it is very difficult for us to receive this type of benefit directly, we are very grateful, and we have the desire to continue this work.” 

~Felix Ochavano Rodríguez, 24th May 2025

On April 15, 2025, various people from the Iskonawa community traveled to Chachibai to commence the work of land clearing and preparation in order to be ready for the seeding of various species come June. The farm will consist of various species related to food, material, and economic motives; including yuca, banana, cocona, sugarcane, pineapple, cotton, citrus, wood, etc. The Iskonawa people are working this farm as a ‘minga’ or voluntary community effort whereby Xapiri Ground will provide the necessary funding to buy the various equipment needs, seeds and logistical costs. We look forward to sharing more on how this project develops later this year. 

As a result of our campaign, the total amount of funds raised during the month of March 2025 were S/ 31,745 of which S/ 24,335 has been allocated towards recovery, relief and preparedness projects. We remain in close contact with all our friends and colleagues in the Pucallpa area, continuing to offer support as and when required.

A special thank you once more to all our donors and friends around the world. Also a thank you to the collective Bufeo here in Peru who shared a donation through their relief campaign. Our belief in the power of friendships, art and collaborations continues to bring about positive change.

We are once more eternally grateful for the overall support in the time of need and the sense of urgency with all those who were involved, our effort is a collective one.

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