The cold wave, which came in June, has affected much of Peru's Andes mountains, where people live above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), where temperatures have reached minus 25 C (minus 13 F).

Children have largely succumbed to pneumonia. Cold has also killed 300,000 hectares (741,000 hectares) of crops and 105,000 farm animals.

Rodriguez said the United Nations had released 25,000 dollars immediately and 100,000 dollars later. World Food Program aid will total 200,000 and the UN Development Program 50,000, while the children's agency UNICEF is looking to finance 370,000 dollars.

Many of the affected areas have also suffered drought.

TERRA.WIRE