OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Ecuador - Volcano Tungurahua
31 August 2001


Appeal for international assistance

1.  The Government of Ecuador has addressed itself to the representatives
of the international community in Quito and to OCHA with the request for
international assistance to support some 22,770 people affected in the
provinces of Tungurahua and Chimborazo by the recently increased activity
of the Volcano Tungarahua.

2.  The request focuses on the following priority needs:

- 5,000 protective masks with replaceable filters
- 1,000 flashlights with batteries
- 15 to 20 collapsible water tanks (10,000 - 15,000 liter capacity)
- 10 VHF radio communications equipment
- 2,000 plastic brooms (to remove ash from roofs)
- 6,000 medium thermal blankets
- 1,000 rakes (to remove ash from pastures)
- Temporary roofing materials (Tents are not needed because they cannot
  withstand the weight of volcanic ash)
- Fodder (feed) for cattle
- Funds for community training (activities of Tungurahua might continue
  for several months/years and people must be trained on how to cope with
  frequent volcanic ash fall)


3.  All items can be purchased in country. Bilateral contributions (cash
and in-kind) should be directed to:

Direccion Nacional de Defensa Civil
Av. Amazonas y Villalengua
Quito, Ecuador
Tel. +593-2-430 655 / 430 644 / 432 517
Fax: +593-2-493 918


4.  The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the OCHA
Regional Disaster Response Advisor proposed to the Instituto Ecuatoriano
de Cooperacion of the Foreign Ministry to hold an information meeting with
the international community.  This meeting is now scheduled for 4
September in Quito.  CARE has called for a meeting on 31 August with NGOs
active in assistance to the population affected.


Contributions

|--------+---------------------------------------------------|
| UNICEF | - 3 Basic medical kits for 10,000 persons for     |
|        |   3 months                                        |
|        | - 5 chlorinating equipment (30 liters per day     |
|        |   capacity each)                                  |
|        | - 2000 jerry cans (20 liters)                     |
|        | - 2000 chlorine dispenser bottles                 |
|        | - An expert in Mental Health will be mobilized    |
|        |   form its Regional Office in Panama during the   |
|        |   first week of September to assist in the        |
|        |   formulation of a project proposal               |
|--------+---------------------------------------------------|
| WFP:   | - Emergency food aid to assist the most           |
|        |   vulnerable amongst 4,500 families. Coordination |
|        |   with Local Emergency Operation Committees to    |
|        |   establish logistic and communication systems    |
|        |   for food aid distribution                       |
|--------+---------------------------------------------------|
| WHO:   | - Health expert supporting the                    |
|        |   inter-institutional assessment team of the      |
|        |   Ministries of Housing and Health                |
|--------+---------------------------------------------------|


5.  Information on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking
on Financial Tracking on the OCHA internet website, www.reliefweb.int.

6.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by
item.  Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions
to this disaster using the OCHA Standardised Contributions Recording
Format, available electronically on the above-mentioned Financial Tracking
Website.

7.  OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used
for immediate relief assistance, in coordination/consultation with
relevant organizations in the United Nations system. Funds should be
transferred to:

Bank name:   Chase Manhattan Bank, NY
Address:     International Agencies Branch
1166, Avenue of Americas, 17th floor
New York, NY 10036-2708 USA
A/C name:    United Nations Geneva General Fund
A/C:         485-001802
ABA Code:    021000021 (US Banking Code)
Swift Code:  CHASU33
Reference:   OCHA ? Ecuador ? Volcano Tungurahua

OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details
concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.

8.  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:
  Mr. Erik Haegglund / Ms. Masayo Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3299 / 1997

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53
   (NY)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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