The Philippine Online Chronicles

795 have been reported dead following the 8.8 quake that struck the South American nation of Chile last week. Over a thousand are still missing, especially in the country’s port towns where tsunamis were generated by the tremor.

Around two million people have been displaced by the quake, without food, lodging or electricity. Although Chilean troops have begun distributing supplies to the survivors, the national government has appealed to the international community for aid.

"[The army and police] have sent all their staff to the [hard-hit] Maule and Bio Bio regions to help with monitoring, public safety and patrols, as well as hand out aid including food and water, set up a field hospital, help re-establish communications and get a series of regular aid flights running," said president Michelle Banchelet.

She added that people still need, "water, food, shelter."

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula said on Monday that they had sent a field hospital and rescue teams to Chile. President Alan García of Peru also personally visited the Chilean capital of Santiago to offer aid.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also met with President Banchelet to say that Washington was ready to offer another mobile hospital unit, eight water purification units, plus dialysis machines, electricity generators, medical supplies, portable bridges, helicopters, and portable kitchens.

In addition to rescue and rehabilitation efforts, Banchelet is focusing on security in Chile’s big cities where looting and theft have been reported.

"We perfectly understand the anxiety and the pressing needs of people, but we know there are criminal actions by small groups that are causing enormous material and personal damage," Bachelet said. "We will not accept that."

In the city of Concepcion for instance, an 18-hour curfew has been implemented to stop roving bands of thieves who have been emptying supermarket shelves. Troops and dozens of tanks have also been deployed.

According to Bachelet, the projected cost to rebuild in the wake of the quake will be in the area of $30 billion.

"I can only say it will be a lot," she said. "Chile has the capacity, we have the engineers, we have the people, we have the experience, we have people trained and all that. But I think it will take long, and it will mean a whole lot of money."