Two months after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Ecuador, the U.S. Mission in Ecuador continues to support humanitarian programs to help recovering communities. This week, the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance announced four new grants that will be implemented by international organizations, in coordination with Ecuadorian authorities. With this new funding, the total U.S. government assistance has reached $5.45 million for the provision of humanitarian assistance and technical cooperation.
Specifically, the new funding will support programs run by the organizations Save the Children, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and World Vision to provide safe drinking water, improved sanitation, hygiene kits, shelter assistance, and psychological support to those affected by the earthquake. The projects will be implemented in Rocafuerte, Jama, Crucita, Santa Ana, Pedernales, El Matal y Muisne.
In the first phase of earthquake response, USAID sent a team of disaster experts to evaluate damage and identify priority needs in the most affected cities. On April 24, 2016, USAID also airlifted 80 tons of emergency relief provisions to help up to 50,000 people.
To help augment the logistical capacity to distribute international assistance, the U.S. Department of Defense coordinated with the Ecuadorian Civil Aviation Directorate to install a temporary air traffic control tower that helped expand aerial operations at the Eloy Alfaro International Airport in Manta.
At the same time, the U.S. Mission recognizes the financial and humanitarian contributions of U.S. companies in Ecuador, the donations of private citizens in the U.S., and the efforts by ex-participants in various U.S.-funded exchange programs to support recovery efforts in communities affected by the earthquake.
More information on the U.S. response to Ecuador can be found at: Ecuador earthquake fact sheet #3
