Emergency teams from U.S. faith-based humanitarian relief agencies are
on the ground in northwest Ecuador after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake
that took the lives of at least 413 people.
The Saturday (April 16) quake destroyed more than 300 buildings, buckling overpasses and trapping drivers.
More than 2,500 people were injured.
Seven of World Vision’s development programs near the epicenter report
no electricity and no running water. The agency said it is setting in
motion plans to reach up to 10,000 people in the hardest-hit areas,
including Manabi, Esmeraldas and Los Rios, with emergency relief items
such as mattresses, mosquito nets, hygiene supplies, kitchen kits and
water treatment systems.
“Right now, our primary concern is ensuring the needs of children and
their families are met,” said World Vision’s national director in
Ecuador, Jose Luis Ochoa. World Vision is in the process of setting up
child-friendly spaces where children and young people can access
counselors.
Georgia-based MAP International, which provides medical supplies, said
an assessment of critical needs was well underway as of Monday. Maggy
Martinez, MAP’s Ecuador country leader, said that in some instances
entire towns or villages have been destroyed. She is evaluating the type
and amount of medical relief MAP will need to send and is working with
other nonprofit partners to coordinate those efforts.
On Monday in Quito, Protestant churches held a meeting to create an
earthquake emergency committee, which MAP has joined alongside
organizations such as UNICEF, World Vision, Plan International, Save the
Children and CARE.
“My country hasn’t experienced an earthquake like this in years,” said
Martinez. “I want to thank (you) for the readiness and willingness to
support the profound suffering and sorrow that my country is facing.”
Some people are alive and remain trapped in the quake rubble. According
to media reports, rescue workers pulled one survivor from a collapsed
hotel 40 hours after the quake.
After rescue and recovery work is completed, relief agencies will
provide shelter, relocation and ongoing health care. MAP is using
standardized, prepackaged kits of medicines and medical supplies. These
are called interagency emergency health kits and are designed to address
the health needs of thousands of people displaced by a disaster for up
to three months.
North Carolina-based Samaritan’s Purse has deployed a disaster
assistance relief team to the quake zone. Spokesman Scott Knuteson said
there were plans to dispatch an aircraft with supplies and key
personnel.
“We are responding in the name of Jesus Christ to help with emergency
needs such as water, shelter and medical care,” Franklin Graham,
president of Samaritan’s Purse, said in a statement. Samaritan’s Purse
will open up a field hospital in coming days.
Timothy C. Morgan is an RNS correspondent
Courtesy: Religion News Service
Photo: Emergency teams from U.S. faith-based humanitarian relief
agencies are on the ground in northwest Ecuador after the 7.8 magnitude
earthquake that took the lives of at least 413 people. Pictured here is a
“child-safe space” for survivors in Portoviejo.
Photo courtsy: Julia Carrion/World Vision
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