OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Ecuador - Volcanic Eruption
8 November 2002


El Reventador's continued volcanic activity causes heavy losses in the
agricultural sector

1.  The El Reventador volcano continues to show high level of activity,
expelling steam, ash and lava. The Geophysical Institute estimates that
the volcanic activity will continue for some time but predicting the
intensity of it is difficult.

2.  An Emergency Committee, headed by the Ministry of Social Welfare, has
been established to co-ordinate, together with the National Civil Defence,
the relief assistance in response to the crisis. In each line ministry
contingency procedures exist to facilitate co-ordination.  A main problem
identified is the lack of consolidated official data on the emergency
relief requirements.

3.  So far, the Government of Ecuador has not made a request for
international relief assistance.

4.  An initial assessment was undertaken on 6 November by the UN system in
Ecuador with the support of a two-member in-country UNDAC team mobilized
by OCHA, and the participation of representatives from the Ministries of
Agriculture, Social Welfare and Health, the Ecuadorian Red Cross, ECHO and
MSF. Based on information gathered in situ the situation after the
volcanic eruption of El Reventador in the different sectors is as follows:

5.  Health: No human victims are reported in the zone. The health
infrastructure is working adequately providing permanent health services.
There is some stock of medicines which has to be complemented in order to
meet the increased incidence in respiratory infections, skin and eye
ailments caused by the high level of ashes in the air. In rural areas,
water sources without protection have been contaminated, which will cause
a growing incidence of gastro-enteritis and stomach problems. Distribution
of safe drinking water is required, especially in the provinces of
Pichincha and Napo.

6.  Infrastructure (electric power, telecommunications, transport): The
electric power was suspended in many areas in the provinces of Pichincha,
Sucumbios and Napo, due to ash fall in the transformers and fallen power
lines. During the first hours of the event, telecommunications were also
affected and in the areas near the volcano this service has still not been
restored.  In general, roads to and from the affected areas are cleared.
The exception is the road between Baeza and Lumbaqui, where the
pyroclastic flows and lahars have destroyed two road bridges.

7.  The international airport in Quito remains closed.

8.  Agriculture: the agricultural sector is the most seriously affected:
the short-cycle crops and the flower plantations are seriously damaged.
The pastures covered with ash, cause digestive problems to livestock, and
milk production has decreased substantially. The Chaco zone, in the
immediate vicinity of the volcano, is the most affected, where ash fall
completely destroyed pasture and crops, the main economic activity of the
rural communities. In Cayambe, more than 8,000 ha. of crops (vegetables,
grin, fruit trees) have been affected. In addition there is a
concentration of commercial flower growers in Cayambe and Pedro Moncay,
whose production is seriously affected.

9.  Housing: the population cleared roofs quickly to avoid damages. In
general, the housing sector has suffered minimal damages.

10.  Priority Needs: the priority needs as identified by the Inter-agency
mission are:
 - Emergency drinking water supply
 - Jerry cans for families in rural areas.
 - Food rations for rural farmers until the agricultural production
   recovers.
 - Basic medicines to treat respiratory tract, skin and eye infections
   as well as gastroenteritis problems.
 - Green houses to protect crops
 - Emergency shelter for livestock as well as forage
 - Financial resources for monitoring of the volcano

11.  Contributions made by in-country international organisations as of 7
November 2002 are:

   |--------------+----------------+----------|
   | Country/     | Description of | Value    |
   | Organization | Assistance     | (in USD) |
   |--------------+----------------+----------|
   | WFP          | 200 weekly     |      N/A |
   |              | family rations |          |
   |--------------+----------------+----------|
   | ECHO         | emergency      |  442,478 |
   |              | relief funds   |          |
   |              | (EUR 450,000)  |          |
   |--------------+----------------+----------|
   | Spain        | seismic        |      N/A |
   |              | monitoring     |          |
   |              | equipment      |          |
   |--------------+----------------+----------|


12.  OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions to be
used for immediate relief assistance, in coordination with relevant
organizations in the United Nations system. For banking details, please
contact the desk officers indicated below. OCHA provides donor governments
with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization
of the funds contributed.

13.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva
on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by
item. The OCHA Standardized Contributions Recording Format for information
on contributions may be found by clicking on Financial Tracking at the top
of the page for this disaster on the OCHA Internet Website
(http://www.reliefweb.int).

14.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet 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. E. Haegglund / Mr. R Mena / Ms. M. Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 14 55 / 19 97

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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