ECUADOR
EL NINO - FLOODS
DHA - GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO.
4
Situation
1. The intensity of rainfall in Ecuador
decreased during the period from 2 to 7 December 1997. However, since 8
December 1997, heavy rainfall has been reported in the Provinces of Esmeraldas
and Manabi by the UNDAC Team presently carrying-out damage assessment in
the area.
2. According to reports from the Oceanographic
Institute of Ecuador, during the period October-December 1997, accumulated
precipitation on the coast of Ecuador has been above normal levels, with
580 mm registered in Guyaquil against 40 mm, the normal precipitation for
this period in the area. In addition, the sea has risen 40 cm from its
normal level.
Assessment in the provinces affected
Guayas and Los Rios
3. Two UNDAC Team-members and representatives from WHO/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Ecuadorean Civil Defense, made an aerial assessment of the flooded areas in the provinces of Guayas and Los Rios on 5 December 1997. This assessment determined that the most affected areas are the communities of Salitre, Samborondón and General Vernaza in Guayas, as well as Vinces and Barreiro in Los Rios. Up to 80% of the surface in these areas is completely flooded and some rural communities can be accessed only by boat.
4. Approximately 768 persons have been evacuated to temporary shelters, of which 168 from the landslide prone-area of Bastion Popular. The hospital of Milagro had to be temporarily evacuated. 20 houses were destroyed in the community of Isla Trinitaria in Guayaquil.
El Oro
5. The water treatment plant supplying the communities of Machala, El Guabo and Pasaje - with a population of approximately 700,000- is operating under very poor sanitary conditions. Contamination level of the water source as well as of the treatment plant is very high. No water purifying chemicals are available at this moment, which poses a serious public health threat.
6. In the city of Santa Rosa (80,000 inhabitants), the situation is slowly returning to normal. Most of the persons evacuated to temporary shelters have returned home. The roads that link the Province of Azuay with the Provinces of Guayas and El Oro (Molleturo-Naranjal and Giron-Cuenca) have been constantly blocked by a high number of landslides.
Manabi
7. Affected areas in Manabi are: Portoviejo, Sucre, Pedernales, Rocafuerte, Tosagua, Bolivar and Chone. The emergency situation in Chone and Portoviejo (areas close to the river) is still critical. Approximately 3,000 people have been evacuated, of which some 1,700 remain in temporary shelters.
8. 400 houses have been damaged, two hospitals have been affected and medical equipment damaged. The water supply system has been affected. Most schools have been damaged, and those not affected have been used as temporary shelters. Classes have been suspended. 2,370 Ha of crops have been destroyed (maize, vegetables, coffee, cocoa, pasture, banana and citrus). Significant number of livestock have been lost (cattle, horses and poultry).
Esmeraldas
9. The communities of Esmeraldas (in particular the neighborhoods of La Isla, Propicia 1 and Propicia 2), Muisne, San Gregorio and Quinindé have been affected. Approximately 660 persons have been evacuated to temporary shelters. 240 houses have been damaged, water sources have been contaminated. 455 Ha of crops have been damaged (rice, maize, vegetables and banana), livestock has also been lost. Several shrimp farms have been damaged.
10. Isolated landslides and flash floods have also interrupted roads and damaged bridges in the Provinces of Azuay, Canar, Bolivar, Pichincha, and Cotopaxi.
11. The overall death toll as of 8 December 1997: 59
Immediate relief needs
12. Further to the priority needs mentioned in DHA Situation Report No. 3, of 4 December 1997) additional needs have been identified: Galvanized iron (corrugated), towels, plastic buckets (5 litre), lanterns, tools (hammers and saws), plastic sheeting, rope (polypropylene 1/2 or 3/4).
National Public Information Programme
13. A public information programme called National Emergency is being broadcasted on radio every morning, and in the evenings on national TV.
Contributions (reported since DHA Situation Report No.3, of 4 December 1997)
| United Nations System | USD | |
| WHO/PAHO | Immunization Programme | 25,000 |
| Governments | ||
| Colombia | 30 metric tons of food aid | 30,000 |
| Netherlands | Water Supplies through WHO/PAHO | 50,000 |
| Other institutions | ||
| Organization of American States | Emergency supplies (tents, blankets, water purification tablets) | 17,500 |
14. DHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions to be used during the immediate relief phase in coordination/consultation with relevant organizations of the United Nations system. DHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed. Donors wishing to channel their contributions through DHA should transfer funds to DHA account no. CO.590.160.1 at the Swiss Bank Corporation, Case Postale 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: Ecuador - Floods.
15. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform DHA Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions and their corresponding values by item.
Telephone number: + 41 22 917 1234
In case of emergency only: + 41 22 917 2010
Desk Offices: Mr. Erik Haegglund, direct tel: +41-22-917-3299 and Mr. Carlos Monteiro-Pereira, direct tel: +41-22-917-1383. Contact for medias: Ms M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct tel: + 41 22 917 2856
Telex 41 42 42 dha ch
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: info @ dha.unicc.org