This DREF Operations Update provides information on the progress of the emergency response to the flooding in the Esmeraldas province of Ecuador and requests a one-month extension due to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake (Richter scale) struck of the coast of northern Ecuador on 16 April 2016. This earthquake affected Esmeraldas and other coastal provinces. The Ecuadorian Red Cross with the IFRC launched a DREF Appeal on 18 April 2016 that was amplified to an Appeal on 22 April 2016 (MDREC012).
Summary of changes made to the Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA)
With this DREF Operations Update, the Ecuadorian Red Cross can precisely report on its actions as well as the population with whom it has been supporting with humanitarian aid following the floods in the Esmeraldas province. The following details the modifications of the activities established in the emergency plan of action:
Number of people to be assisted: The EPoA established 3,260 people (733 families). However, the precise figure is 2,766 people for the same number of families.
Quality programming/Areas common to all sectors
In Atacames canton, the census to confirm beneficiary families was conducted during the first week in March. However, in this was conducted in three stages in Río Verde canton due to the poor quality of roads to communities, the distance between these communities as well as families having abandoned their homes and/or moved in with relatives in other locations.
During the validation process, the ERC determined that there were no families that required priority assistance, although it did identify sectors where households had not received assistance. The Chumundé parish (third-level administrative unit) was targeted in order to benefit 242 families. The population in this area can only travel by river during the rainy season and lives in communities located two or three hours distant from the parish capital.
Repair for the ERC provincial board in Esmeralda vehicle to be used for distributions and community work: Operational efforts require providing full maintenance to the provincial board vehicle. This vehicle required repair and the poor road conditions in the province could lead to the need for further repairs, and thus cause interruptions to programmed activities.
Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion
Start fumigation in affected areas (15 days of fumigation): This intervention initially planned for weeks 1 to 4 will be conducted in weeks 9 and 10 to coincide with the health and clean-up campaigns jointly planned with the Ministry of Public Health. Additionally, fumigation is not recommended during steady rainfall since the chemicals get washed away.
Safe water management awareness-raising campaign (to be conducted simultaneously with home visits): This activity was planned concurrently with the home visits for week 9.
Socialization campaigns through community and school meetings: Since schools are on holiday, campaigns are planned for the same week as home visits.
Home visits for epidemic prevention and vector control: Given the scarcity of volunteers trained in this area, a meeting was scheduled with volunteers to organize an epidemic-control refresher course. The intervention was planned for week 9.
Acquisition and delivery of mosquito nets: These were delivered on days 10 and 12 during the first distribution.
Psychosocial support (PSS) activities in collective centres: This activity was conducted in one collective centre. Given the lack of trained personnel, a PSS refresher course will be held for volunteers because there are currently seven active collective centres in Esmeraldas, one in Río Verde and 1 in Atacames. These interventions were planned for week 10.
Fumigation and anti-parasitic campaigns were already conducted in some sectors, as planned by the Ministry of Public Health.