OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Ecuador - Floods and Landslides
20 June 2001


Situation

1.  The Ecuadorian Civil Defence reports that due to intense torrential
rains over the last 10 days the number of persons affected has risen to
8,300 (1,700 families), and the number of dead persons has reached 41. Six
persons are still missing.

2.  39 houses have been destroyed and 681 damaged. Losses are also
reported in the agricultural sector where 5,400 hectares of farmed land
have been, and some 4,000 livestock have been lost. No damage to the
health infrastructure has been reported so far, and health emergency
services are operating normally.

3.  Landslides caused by heavy rains have blocked several roads and a
total of 36 bridges, most of which are suspension bridges for pedestrians
and light vehicles, have been damaged or destroyed cutting off access to
several communities such as Palanda and Chinchipe in the Zamora-Chinchipe
province. The road between Papallacta and Baeza is still blocked.

4.  Rainfall has now decreased in the areas affected and the level of the
rivers has receded to normal for this time of the year.


National response

5.  With the support of the Ministries of Health, Social Welfare, Housing;
the Red Cross, the Armed Forces and the National Police, the Civil Defence
is coordinating emergency relief operations. Temporary shelters for
approximately 150 families have been set up in the Zamora-Chinchipe
Province (2 in Yantzaza, 1 in Zamora,1 Nangaritza, 1 in El Pangui). The
Government of Ecuador has allocated US$ 100,000 to cover immediate relief
needs.

6.  Thanks to improved weather conditions, the rehabilitation of the
country's oil pipeline concluded on 17 June and oil exports have been
reinitiated. According to official sources, the total loss accumulated
during the 8 days in which oil exports had to be suspended amounts to
US$17 million.


International Response

7.  The Government of Ecuador has not requested international assistance.

8.  Under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the
in-country United Nations Disaster Management Team and the OCHA Regional
Disaster Response Advisor are assessing the emergency situation and their
response to the emergency. WFP, UNICEF and WHO/PAHO have dispatched
assessment teams to the most affected areas. A rapid needs assessment
survey will be conducted in the areas affected in order to prioritize
emergency relief needs as well as to identify specific needs of the most
vulnerable groups (women, children and elders).

9.  1,660 family food rations for one week provided by WFP are being
distributed in all the affected provinces by the Civil Defence System.
Additional food rations for 1,660 families to cover a 60-day period will
be made available by WFP during the rehabilitation phase.

10.  WHO/PAHO has been assisting the Ministry of Health in the following
areas: water supply in the affected areas, in particular in the city of
Baņos where almost 50% of the water distribution system has collapsed
affecting up to 8,000 persons; rehabilitation of 1,500 meters of damaged
water distribution lines and the construction of an alternate line;
provision of technical support for the formulation of a contingency plan
for the health services network


Contributions

UNICEF - Medicines, ORS, blankets,                      US$ 7,570
         water purification equipment

WFP - Emergency operation                             US$ 200,000
      for food and non-food items
      (includes approximately US$20,000 for
      operational support through Civil
      Defence)

WHO/PAHO  - Rehabilitation of water distribution       US$ 15,000
            system in Baņos, technical assistance



11.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Mr. Erik Haegglund / Mr. Carlos Pereira / Ms. Masayo Kondo
  Direct tel: +41-22-917 32 99/13 83/19 97
  
Press contact:
  Ms. M. Moulin-Acedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53


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