• The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the northwestern part of Ecuador in the evening of 16 April 2016 is currently considered the biggest disaster to hit the Latin American region since the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 (OCHA).
• UNICEF and humanitarian partners require US$23 million for their response as part of the $72.7 million appeal launched by the UN and partners targeting 350,000 affected people.
• UNICEF is co-leading the sectorial WASH and education groups at the national and field level (with the support of ACF in Esmeraldas) and is also participating in the sectorial groups of child protection and health and nutrition in emergencies.
• WASH: Supplies in country are now being distributed in the affected zone. 60 latrines are being installed in Pedernales.
Formal agreements for implementation of the CERF project will be finalized this week to start immediate implementation.
• Education and Protection: The first four education and protection spaces are being installed: two in Pedernales and two in Jama with the capacity to work with approximately 3,500 children and adolescents.
Psychosocial attention for children and adolescents is currently ongoing.
• Health & Nutrition: MoH team and partners will jointly boost the Integrated Plan for maternal and neonatal health, nutrition and early childhood development within the broader earthquake response.
• UNICEF Country Office has deployed 10 staff to the field to support response operations, and 12 additional staff have been deployed from the LAC Regional and Country Offices (8) and HQ (4).