HIGHLIGHTS
A harsh winter season started in Ecuador in December 2011. As a consequence, on February 19 the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR) declared yellow alert in 13 provinces due to heavy rains, flooding and landslides.There is a need for emergency food assistance. Main impacts include:
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A total of 95,984people have been affected
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There are 3,904 people in shelters
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There are 139,944 m of affected roads
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There are 49 affected schools (See other impacts in assessment section).
The current situation has created urgent food needs, especially for those in emergency shelters, and for displaced families. In rural areas food insecurity is most evident from the depletion of food stocks, destruction of crops, displacement of families and disrupted transport which limits goods moving to some areas. Some families face a total loss of crops and their food stocks for the rest of the year. Water supply, sanitation, protection, and emergency healthcare are other stated needs that are being addressed by the SNGR.
There is also an important need to improve the conditions of emergency shelters in terms of hygiene and water supply.
Considering the existing Technical Cooperation Agreement signed by SNGR and WFP on October 15, 2010, the state of exception declared, and the effects of the flooding in the country, the SNGR asked WFP for emergency food assistance (letter SNGR-SRES-2012-0077-O, dated March 15 2012) within the existing Technical Cooperation Agreement.
IR EMOP 200412 was approved by WFP on March 15 2012, starting on the approval date and ending on June 18, 2012. Emergency food assistance will reach 25.000 people affected by the emergency.
Procurement process has been approved by WFP HQ, and contracting process has been initiated.
Due to the emergency situation, the Ministry of Education has deferred the beginning of new school activities year in the Coastal region for two weeks, until April 16.