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Ecuador: Earthquake - Apr 2016

Disaster description

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Ecuador at 6:58 pm local time on 16 April 2016.(SNDGR, 19 Apr 2016)

The UN, together with humanitarian partners, have launched an appeal for US$72.7 million to assist 350,000 of the most affected persons, for an initial 3-month period. (OCHA, 24 Apr 2016)

The human toll of the earthquake is registered as 668 deaths, eight missing people and 6,274 people with severe injuries. More than 230,000 people were wounded and more than one million people were directly or indirectly affected by the earthquake. Approximately 35,000 homes are classified as destroyed or damaged and 140,000 people lack adequate housing. The government initially declared a state of emergency in six provinces which was extended until mid-December in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Manabí. The severe aftershocks of 19 May and 10 July in the same provinces produced further humanitarian needs, particularly for increased actions in psychosocial support and community-based disaster risk reduction. (IFRC, 23 Dec 2016)

By mid-October 2016, about 16,000 people were still staying in shelters and displacement sites. (OCHA, 13 Oct 2016)

On 19 December, another earthquake, of 5.8 magnitude this time, hit the northwest part of Ecuador in Esmeraldas province with epicenter in Atacames. Subsequently, 144 aftershocks took place in the area. More than 4,000 people have been affected (including 3 people dead,) while 145 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Local working groups were immediately activated in order to respond, with one new official IDP camp settled, and 15 additional informal shelters set up, while heavy rains in the area hamper humanitarian response. The State of Emergency has been extended to 13 March 2017 in Manabí and Esmeraldas provinces. (UNICEF, 16 Jan 2017)

In Mid-March 2017, the State of Exception was extended for another month in Manabí and Esmeraldas provinces. (Gov't Ecuador, 14 Mar 2017)

A year after the earthquake, through a multi-sectorial emergency response, UNICEF achieved, among other positive results, the provision of safe drinking water (77,000 beneficiaries), sanitation infrastructure (44,000) and hygiene promotion (68,000), as well as the establishment of temporary spaces for education and protection (with a capacity for 13,290 children), and the provision of educational/recreational materials (just over 34,000 children benefited). (UNICEF, 12 Apr 2017) On the other hand, UNDP stated that its current aim is to improve coordination, flow of adequate information and standardization of procedures for an orderly and effective response that meets the existing needs. To that aim, it has provided technical experts for demolition and environmental management of rubble throughout the country, provinces and municipalities, among others. (UNDP, 15 May 2017)

As regards other response actions a year after, one key result achieved since the time of the earthquake includes the action brought before the Constitutional Court of Ecuador to request the recognition of the right to adequate and decent housing, regardless of the possession of a formal land title. The Ecuador Red Cross has supported communities to fulfill the administrative and legal processes necessary to achieve security of housing, land and property for people affected by disasters. (IFRC, 9 Jun 2017)

On 30 June, an earthquake measuring 6.3 struck off the coast of Manabí, a province where approximately 90 per cent of the population live in poverty. Manabí is still recovering from the effects of the April 2016 earthquake and prolonged rainfall in 2017. Since then, there have been 58 aftershocks, and more are forecasted for the coming weeks. (OCHA, 6 Jul 2017)

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