OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Ecuador - Floods
23 May 2002


Situation

1.  Intense and frequent rains that continued through the whole period
from February to April this year have in recent weeks reduced to a normal
level for the season. Most of the people staying in temporary shelter have
returned home.


National Response

2.  The institutions forming the Crisis Committee and the Civil Defense
system are now focusing on the following activities:

- Resettlement of the families living in the flood-affected areas
- Planning of preparatory actions to the possible recurrence of the El
  Niņo phenomenon in the last quarter of 2002
- Attention to health care, provision of potable water, and
  epidemiological survey and prevention


Situation in the Health Sector

3.  According to the Ministry of Health and the PAHO/WHO, a possible
outbreak of leptospirosis is under investigation in the Manabi province.
Further efforts have been undertaken to keep dengue and malaria under
control. A joint campaign, organized by the Ministry of Health, the
Ministry of Education and the PAHO/WHO for vector control, has started
with the participation of students and communities.

4.  The availability of potable water improved substantially with the
opening of 52 centers producing sodium hypochlorite, and new centers are
being installed with the assistance of UNICEF and PAHO/WHO. The Ministry
of Health has installed 4 water purification plants in the most affected
provinces of Manabi, Guayas, Esmeraldas and Los Rios.

5.  Healthcare provision has been reinforced with 22 mobile healthcare
units in the five affected provinces. Each unit also includes a
psychologist in order to provide mental health care for the affected
communities.


International Assistance

6.  In the framework of the 'Special Contingency Fund,' agreed on 9 April
2002 by the Civil Defense, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Cattle and the World Food Programme, food rations are
being provided to the affected families in the provinces of Esmeraldas, El
Oro, Guayas, Los Rios and Manabi. 33,000 individual two-week rations have
been distributed so far.

7.  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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