OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Ecuador - Volcanic Eruption
14 November 2002


1.  The level of activity of El Reventador volcano has decreased during
the past week. However, the erupting process continues. On 11 November, a
cloud of sulphur emanated from the volcano and affected the Metropolitan
District of Quito, contaminating the atmosphere. According to the
Geophysical Institute of Ecuador, the current situation of the volcano is
characterised by continuous emissions of gas, vapour and ashes.

2.  In the city of Quito, close to 1 million metric tones of volcanic ash
were collected by the Municipality with the support of voluntary work by
its residents. Business as usual has resumed throughout the city.

3.  On 13 November, the Ministry of Foreign Relations convened a meeting
with representatives of diplomatic mission, international and multilateral
organisations with the purpose to inform about the emergency situation. A
list of priority needs was distributed to all the participants.

4.  The two-member in-country UNDAC team continues to support coordination
and information management efforts. The team will participate in further
assessment of needs in the most affected areas.

5.  The international airport in Quito reopened its operations on 10
November.

6.   Contributions reported to OCHA thus far:

|--------------+-------------------------------+----------|
| Country/     | Description of assistance     | Value    |
| Organization |                               | (in USD) |
|--------------+-------------------------------+----------|
| OCHA         | Emergency cash grant          |   30,000 |
|              | A two-member in-country UNDAC |      N/a |
|              | team mobilised                |          |
|--------------+-------------------------------+----------|
| WFP          | 200 weekly family rations     |      N/a |
|--------------+-------------------------------+----------|
| ECHO         | emergency relief funds        |  442,478 |
|              | (EUR 450,000)                 |          |
|--------------+-------------------------------+----------|
| Spain        | seismic monitoring equipment  |      N/a |
|--------------+-------------------------------+----------|
| Norway       | Emergency relief funds        |   20,000 |
|              | through OCHA                  |          |
|              | In-kind donation of water     |   28,442 |
|              | jerrycans (value including    |          |
|              | transport: NOK 213,600)       |          |
|--------------+-------------------------------+----------|


7.  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.

8.  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).

9.  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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