Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano OCHA Situation Report No. 8

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0181
OCHA Situation Report No. 8
Tungurahua Volcano - Ecuador

This situation report is based on information provided by the office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Ecuador, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), IFRC and media reports.

Situation

1. According to the National Geophysical Institute of Ecuador the seismic activity of the Tungurahua during the past days has slightly decreased. Small steam and gas columns have been registered. The threat of a new eruption remains high and the volcano continues to be thoroughly monitored. Precipitations have been reported in the area and a slight layer of snow covers the volcano.

Impact & Needs

2. According to the CLIRSEN (Center for Integrated Remote Sensing of Natural Resources), agricultural fields in the communities of Chontapamba and El Mazano in the Municipality of Penipe could be badly affected in their level of productivity troughout the next 50 years. The recent eruption devastated maize, tomato and onion crops. The experts consider that other affected communities will recover their productivity in approximately 10 years from now.

National response

3. According to the Government, 21 hectares of land have been handed for relocation to some of the most affected population. La Moravia farm in the Province of Pastaza is the major relocation area for families coming from the Municipality of Penipe. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock with the support of FAO will provide these farmers with seeds and technical assistance.

UN and International response

4. UNETE (the UN Emergency Technical Team) continues to coordinate with provincial authorities, the Civil Defense, the Ecuadorian Red Cross, the Office of the Humanitarian Affairs of the European Community (ECHO), CARE, CRS, USAID, Save the Children, World Vision and IOM.

5. WFP continues to lead and coordinate with local authorities and Emergency Committees, activities regarding food security and food assistance.

6. UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Social Welfare in order to improve the conditions in temporary shelters. UNICEF will implement the psychosocial strategy "Return to Happiness" in the affected communities, in order to alleviate 2.000 children in the first phase of the project.

7. UNDP with government authorities continues to elaborate guidelines for an early recovery strategy plan.

8. FAO is working on the implementation of a project called: "Integrated Program on Livelihoods Rehabilitation for Rural Population affected by the Tungurahua Volcano Eruption". A FAO specialist in agriculture and livestock rehabilitation is expected shortly in Ecuador to provide technical assistance. FAO will allocate USD 7,150,000 to reactivate, on the long run, productivity in the affected areas.

9. The provinces of Tungurahua, Chimborazo, and Bolívar remain under UN security phase 1.

10. This situation report, together with additional information on other ongoing emergencies, is also available on http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel. +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 2010

Desk Officer:
Ms. Isabel Garcia-Gill, E-mail: garcia-gill@un.org, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1915

Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. Elisabeth Byrs, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-917-892 1669