Quito/Panama City/Geneva, 25 March — The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal for 4 million CHF to protect the health and livelihoods of communities in Ecuador affected by the ongoing floods and the devastating oil spill which occurred there on 13 March. The accumulation of these disasters has impacted over 500,000 people in the provinces of El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas and Manabi.
The IFRC has also allocated from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) 497,000 CHF of the 4 million CHF needed to ensure aid reaches communities immediately.
In Esmeraldas, the oil spill has contaminated the Esmeraldas River, several of its tributaries and the country's northern coast, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency. Since day one, Ecuadorian Red Cross volunteers have been on the ground distributing emergency water supplies, providing first aid, and assessing the spill’s impact.
Mitigating the risks associated with traces of hydrocarbons in drinking water is a priority. The spill has forced the local authorities to suspend the supply of piped water and activate distribution via water trucks. Three Red Cross water purification plants have been installed and have produced 152,000 liters of clean water in two days, enough to address the basic needs of 10,000 people.
“The oil spill in Esmeraldas is an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe, with a profound impact on local communities. The Ecuadorian Red Cross has deployed all its resources to provide immediate relief, but international support is critical to help more people, ensure a more effective response and speed up long-term recovery. Only by working together can we ensure a safer future for the affected communities and our environment,” said Dr. Roque Soria, President of the Ecuadorian Red Cross.
The IFRC emergency appeal will allow the Ecuadorian Red Cross to expand its response to both crises, with the aim of assisting over 175,000 people during the next 12 months. The operation will focus on providing clean drinking water and offering medical care, including mental health support. Red Cross volunteers will also provide shelter assistance for those whose homes have been damaged, essential hygiene and household items and cash transfers for the most affected families.
"The country is facing a public health emergency. Toxic exposure, water contamination, disease proliferation and food insecurity caused by the floods and the oil spill are threatening entire communities, and if we do not act now, the long-term impacts will be devastating. We need urgent, coordinated action to protect people’s health, secure safe water, and prevent further harm," said Loyce Pace, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas.
The Red Cross will focus its response to both disasters in the hardest-hit areas, addressing the needs of displaced families in temporary shelters, particularly single-parent households with young children, older adults, and people with disabilities. The Red Cross efforts will also support rural and riverine communities, including indigenous populations facing environmental risks and loss of traditional livelihoods.
For more information and to set up an interview, please contact: media@ifrc.org
In Panama - Susana Arroyo Barrantes +50769993199
In Geneva – Tommaso Della Longa +41797084367
Hannah Copeland +41762369109