Medicines donated by the Brazilian government to assist victims of natural disasters in Ecuador
On March the 6th, an aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force arrived in Guaiaquil, Ecuador, taking 7,5 tons of medicines with a view to mitigating the suffering of approximately 300,000 Ecuadorians affected by severe floods and an eruption of the Tungurahua volcano. The donation amounted approximately US$ 260,000.
The Brazilian government expressed its profound condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and to the people of Ecuador. This humanitarian aid from the Brazilian government complements another recent donation, also personally authorized by the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of 5000 blankets, 32 tons of rice, 16 tons of sugar, 8 tons of lentils, 3500 bars of soap, 3500 tooth pastes and 3500 tooth brushes to the Government of Ecuador for the benefit of the 250,000 Colombian refugees currently living in the Ecuadorian territory, who are assisted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Brazilian Embassy in Quito acquired the donated items in the local market and they were delivery at the "Dirección Nacional de Defensa Civil".
For further information on the Brazilian emergency humanitarian assistance programmes, please visit: www.assistenciahumanitaria.mre.gov.br (in Portuguese)