Highlights
• 175,000 people were reached with information on immediate vector control and individual protection through the Zika Campaign launched in Guayaquil July 14th by the MoH in close collaboration with UNICEF and PAHO/WHO.
• School year formally began on July 4th; during the first week more than 6,330 children attended classes in the temporary education and protection spaces established by UNICEF and its partners, while the Ministry of Education started to phase out these temporary spaces and bring the pre-fabricated schools online.
• 590 School-in-a-Box kits have been distributed to strengthen capacities of teachers and provide school supplies to 23,600 children and adolescents.
• In coordination with Red Cross-Ecuador, 72,008 packs containing 200 ml of oatmeal have been distributed for children in temporary education spaces.
• Rehabilitation of pumping station in Cojimíes, with more than 300 families having access to safe water. Additionally the installation of water treatment system and connection to the urban network at the IDP Camp “Ex-Aeropuerto” has been provided. Approximately 1,082 people have benefitted.
• WASH assessments led by UNICEF and its partners, for the rural areas in the municipalities of Jama and Pedernales are being implemented in order to identify gaps and further actions required.
• 141 kits for implementing the psychosocial methodology “Retorno a la Alegría” have been delivered in Esmeraldas and Manabí provinces in order to increase the psychosocial support coverage in the affected areas.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
250,000 children and adolescents initially affected by the earthquake
350,000 people who need urgent support in WASH
663 fatalities
12 people missing
4,859 people injured
26 official shelters
8,632 people in official shelters
15,194 people in informal refuges
80,000 people displaced
13,962 houses and public buildings affected in the urban area
15,710 houses and public buildings affected in the rural area
1,106 cases of Zika reported by MoH (73 pregnant women infected)
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Three months after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the impact and priority needs of the population are clearer, with detailed response plans integrated into a wider overall strategy in coordination with the Government. To date, the Government has reported 663 fatalities, 12 missing persons, and 4,859 injured people. Up to 560 schools 1 were damaged.
Approximately 13,962 houses and public buildings were affected in urban settings, with 15,710 in rural areas. In Esmeraldas and Manabí provinces, 4,299 buildings were evacuated by the local government.
A series of strong aftershocks, about 2,000 in less than three months, have reverberated across the coastal areas in northwest Ecuador since the initial earthquake on April 16th. The strongest ones took place on May 18th (6.7 and 6.8 in the Richter’s scale). In addition, there has been a significant increase of aftershocks, both in frequency and in strength over the last two weeks (on July 10th, 5.9 and 6.2 magnitude aftershocks occurred between 9 and 9:11 pm respectively).
Infrastructures, roads and buildings have been further affected. The biggest movement took place in Isla de Muisne with several thousand people crossing the estuary immediately after the strong aftershocks. The Government has declared the area highly vulnerable and has cleared more than 1,000 families and public institutions from the area to the mainland.
Thousands of people remain displaced living in collective centers (26 official camps reported by the Government), spontaneous sites, and with host families in urban settings or rural areas. In Esmeraldas province, there are still about 2,400 people in official camps, while the number of displaced people in spontaneous sites is around 4,000 people, settled in 35 different sites (DTM round 3). In Portoviejo, the “Ex-Aeropuerto” is the largest displaced persons camp for the area with about 300 families accommodated, while Manta’s camp hosts about 500 people. Conditions at displacement sites vary greatly with some sites having access to basic services ranging to other sites with very limited services, especially in rural areas. The main concern in the camps and spontaneous sites are related to safety and security of the hosted population, especially children and women. A particular concern has being raised also for children and teenagers living in informal settlements that spend most of their time in inappropriate contexts and locations. There is still a high need in terms of psychosocial attention to people, including children. In spontaneous sites, needs in terms of WASH remain and poor sanitation conditions in all of these places are increasing the risk of mosquito-borne disease such as Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue fever, posing an immediate public health threat. More than 1.100 cases of Zika, including 73 pregnant women, were reported by the MoH last week. Urgent needs in terms of safe water, sanitation and hygiene; emergency and temporary shelter solutions; health, protection, food assistance and education remain important.
UNICEF is working with partners to address these needs, although the geographical extent of the territory covered does not allow a complete coverage of needs, especially in rural areas where access is limited. In addition, unplanned human movements due to aftershocks force constant strategy changes for preparedness activities to respond to any sudden emergency or event. Finally, UNICEF is compiling and working on an action plan based on field results to address the different gaps and to ensure rapid response when needed. However, limited funding is hindering humanitarian operations.