OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Ecuador - Floods
3 April 2002


Situation

1.  The Civil Defense reported the following information about the impact
on persons and housing as of 1 April:

         |--------------------+--------|
         | Dead               |     16 |
         |--------------------+--------|
         | Homeless           |  1,726 |
         |--------------------+--------|
         | Affected           | 24,121 |
         |--------------------+--------|
         | Families evacuated |    746 |
         |--------------------+--------|
         | Houses damaged     |   4516 |
         |--------------------+--------|
         | Houses destroyed   |    134 |
         |--------------------+--------|


2.  On 26 March, the in-country inter-agency assessment mission, composed
of WFP, WHO/PAHO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and experts from the Ministry of
Health, the National Civil Defense, Red Cross, ECHO and two national
experts concluded its visit to the coastal areas affected by floods.


Joint Assessment Mission

3.  The findings of the inter-agency assessment mission were presented on
27 March to the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) in Quito.

4.  The following is a summary of the consolidated report of the
inter-agency assessment mission, reported by the OCHA Regional Disaster
Response Advisor in Quito.


Agriculture

5.  In the provinces of Guayas, Manabi, El Oro and Los Rios, many hectares
of crops such as banana trees, cacao, maize and rice have been seriously
affected by the floods (1,600 hectares are reportedly damaged in the
Province of El Oro), thus affecting subsistence farmers and the local
economy. Trade in the affected areas is also hampered by damaged secondary
roads.


Education

6.  In the coastal areas affected by floods, school classes have not
started yet as evacuated people have been accommodated in school
buildings.  This situation may further delay the beginning of classes.


Health and Sanitation

7.  In rural areas, epidemiological surveillance carried out by local
doctors is irregular.  Due to floods, the water and sanitation monitoring
system has worsened. Sources of drinking water have been contaminated by
flood water and solid wastes dispersed in the urban areas.


Road access

8.  While asphalt roads are accessible, secondary roads have been affected
by flooding. In some areas of Guayas, Los Rios and Manabi access is
possible only by canoes.


Recommendations

9.  The inter-agency assessment mission elaborated some recommendations as
to the coordination mechanisms to implement:

- Involve local communities and local authorities in risk management
  strategies together with national authorities
- Strengthen the National Emergency Information System to ensure a
  coordinated decision making process at local level
- Establish an Early Warning System for flooding
- Prioritize actions related to the provision of drinking water and
  sanitation


10.  So far, the Government has not requested international assistance.

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 direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99
  Ms. Masayo Kondo direct Tel. +41-22-917 19 97
  Ms. Federica D'Andreagiovanni direct Tel. +41-22-917 14 78

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


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