Situation Report 3 – FLOODS – 3 MARCH 2008

This situation report is based on information received from the Office of the Resident Coordinator, UN Agencies, the Ecuadorian Government, the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in Quito and OCHA Regional Office in Panama.

HIGHLIGHTS

The floods affected between 250,000 to 300,000 people of whom some 100,000 are in need of immediate assistance including food, shelter, health and water and sanitation.

Some 13,465 persons are in 225 temporarily shelters.

Mesas sectoriales (or sectoral tables) have started their work identifying needs and designing response plans. The UNDAC Team is supporting coordination and information management.

SITUATION OVERVIEW rainfall registered in Santo Domingo, Quevedo, Milagro and Machala were above normal; those of 1. During the last two weeks, floods in the Portoviejo and Guayaquil Airport were close to country have increased, now affecting 13 provinces normal, while in Esmeraldas and La Concordia the of Ecuador or 50% of the provinces. According to the values were under normal. INAMHI (National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology), rains will continue, with major intensity 3. In Guayaquil, the most significant rainfalls in some provinces; therefore, floods are expected occurred between 21 and 24 of February 2008. On 24 until April. Flooding led to the collapse of bridges February, in the north of the city (INDULAC), the over the Moraspungo, Santa Rosa, and Japara rivers highest rainfall level reached 68.6 mm. in the Province. Increased water levels are threatening the dam in Montalvo, Los Ríos Province. 4. The weather forecast shows that within the Flooding has adversely affected water and electricity following days, there will be downpours as well as services. isolated rains in the north and in the inland areas of the coastal region. 2. The military Commando Conjunto has indicated that there are as many as 250,000 to 300,000 people NATIONAL RESPONSE affected by the flooding of which some 100,000 are in need of immediate assistance including food, 5. On 29 February, the President of Ecuador shelter, and water, according to humanitarian actors. designated the Army Forces to lead the response According to the latest information by the Army operations. As part of the process, the Army presented in the Emergency Operations Centre (COE) appointed persons in charge of the various sectorial regional meeting, some 13,465 persons have been groups. Coordination continued with the participation placed in 225 temporarily shelters. Rainfall level of the different governmental institutions, UN statistics between 21 and 29 February 2008 show that agencies, NGOs and other institutions. the intensity of rains has decreased. The values of the Ecuador floods Report No. 3 Page 2

Health • Logistical capacity response. 12. The sectorial groups meetings have been 6. The health sector registered cases of dengue started by the UN agencies and UNDAC. Today the fever, hepatitis and leptospirosis, without exceeding groups carried out several meetings in Guayaquil and the figures registered the previous year. Floods confirmed progress in several themes discussed. damaged the installations of six cantons hospitals, limiting their operative capability. Shelters

7. On 28 February, the health sub-secretariat 13. Duran and Babahoyo shelters received a reported an increase of dengue fever in the provinces contribution of USD 6,000 for improvements of the of Los Rios (from 131 to 139) and El Oro (from (172 living conditions. In others, a team of 20 engineers to 176). worked on the improvement of the infrastructure, and environmental sanitation. 8. Donations from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) arrived including 14. According to the information of the Army medicines kits containing antibiotics, hydration salts presented in the COE regional meeting, some 13,465 and analgesics. Kits have been delivered to the health persons have been placed in 225 temporarily shelters. sub-secretariat to be distributed within the various It is important to stress that on the same day, the health areas. Situation Report presented by the Sala de Situación Regional reported that 12,585 persons were in 180 9. The World Health Organization is working on shelters. These changes are due to the improvement an action plan for water safety, epidemiologic in the registration process. surveillance, operation rooms setting, communication, information and health services. Food Some USD 30,000.00 from the WHO’s regular budget to be used to buy medicines, waterproof 15. According to the Army, some 39,145 food boots, water buckets, and mosquito nets were rations have been delivered until now. On 3 March, delivered to the health sub regional secretariat of the The President has instructed that 10,000 food rations coastal region. should be distributed every 5 day for the next 4 months to approximately 50,000 families. 10. Up to now, 493, MT of humanitarian aid have been mobilized, composed of donation and 16. SUMA reports that 398 MT were mobilized government assistance as follows: shelter:33 MT; from their stocks. food: 397; logistics 4 MT; personal kits: 43 MT and environmental sanitation: 10 MT. Logistics

Organization: local and national authorities 17. The SUMA was installed in INLOG warehouses and Alimentate Ecuador Program is Coordination preparing the food rations. The warehouses are located in Ala 22, INLOG of Guayaquil and in Base 11. In a meeting held in Guayaquil, with the Taura. They are operating normaly. Minister of Litoral, the Deputy Resident Coordinator, members of UNETE and UNDAC, the following 18. In Babahoyo, WFP and SUMA coordinated, priorities were highlighted. with the provincial and municipal authorities, the • Saving lifes; installation of LSS/SUMA in a warehouse of the • Social sector; Alimentate Ecuador Program. Aliméntate Ecuador, • Protecting infrastructures; Armed forces and Civil Defense (which has been • Rehabilitation of Livelihoods; trained with LSS/SUMA in Guayaquil) are managing

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these warehouses. The LSS/SUMA in the city of for support in shelter, health, organization and Portoviejo (Manabí) is being established. training. Through the Programme ‘Operation Esperanza’, the NGO is in the process of requesting international assistance from 102 countries where INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE they have a presence.

19. The USAID humanitarian assistance to 26. Plan International has been working closely Ecuador amounts to USD 230,712 (Emergency Relief with the Health Ministry in Guayaquil, mainly on Supplies to the Ecuadorian Red Cross and other issues associated with the distribution of medical humanitarian organizations). The Department of supplies and the transfers of families to shelter areas. Defence’s assistance amounts to USD 45,000 The NGO is trying to manage international aid and is (Emergency Relief Services and Assistance with working in Nueva Prosperita with 7 community Rescue Operations). organizations in the elaboration of emergencies plans.

20. The Spanish Government sent 2 water 27. CARE, in coordination with COE's and the purification plants, relief kits, paediatrics kits, trauma Civil Defence, is supporting food, shelter, and water kits, anti- diarrhea supplements, lighting equipment & sanitation initiatives in Guaquilas, Arenillars and and other equipment. Santa Rosa in . USD 63, 000 for food rations is available to CARE and an 21. The Colombian Government sent a donation international appeal for funds was made to assist with of 320 bundles of soup (25 kg), 1,000 blankets and 18 the provision of an additional 4,000 food rations, medicine boxes. The total donation was about 9.5 which is expected to be delivered by the second week MT. of May. CARE is also working on the possibility of managing USD 200,000 with Europe CARE. The 22. ECHO has allocated €1,500,000 to this NGO Foundation Unification is preparing emergency. This money will be used through NGOs community works in New Proferina. working in different affected communities. 28. German KNH is working with children in Non Governmental Organizations Chimborazo on nutrition and health. The German Red Cross visited Los Ríos and El Oro to identify the 23. World Vision Ecuador is focussing on population needs of those not in shelters. childhood and adolescence, in Imbabura, Esmeraldas, , Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, 29. The European Community Civil Protection Bolívar and Manabí. It has requested international Mechanism (MIC) has issued an alert and is support and is part of the Health Secrtoral exploring the possibility to send a small logistical Group/Cluster. expert team on site.

24. COOPI has a disaster preparedness project in the province of Los Rïos and Bolívar and a Civil UN RESPONSE Defence strengthening initiative in Ventana Canton which includes the management of a Rescue Team. 30. UNDP completed the planning to begin the In Babahoyo, COOPI has a presence in the early recovery process with the Litoral Ministry. The Information Centre and is currently negotiating with National Planning Secretary (SENPLADES) has ECHO to develop a recovery project in the cantons of joined the process. UNDP will support the Ministry Montalvo, Baba, Vinces and Babahoyo. with the recruitment of 4 technicians. These technicians (experts in urban planning, infrastructure, 25. Cámara Júnior Internacional Ecuador has sustainable livelihoods and Disaster Risk 486 volunteers in Ecuador working on the emergency Management) are expected to work full time for a

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period of 3 to 6 months. Together with the strategy; early recovery of the basic social Government Team, they will be tasked with infrastructure, rehabilitation of livelihoods formulating the Reconstruction Plan focusing on and institutional framework for risk reducing vulnerability, and closely linking it to the management in conjunction with the Litoral National Development Plan. Ministry; and technical assistance for the formulation of a prevention and recovery 31. WFP continues its work in the food area, strategy at the regional and national levels. giving technical support to the coordination of food distribution and to the Logistical Emergency System. Water and sanitation (PAHO, UNICEF) - Donation of de-chlorination equipment to the 32. UNDAC continues to support mechanisms for Ministry for Public Health. coordination, information management, and humanitarian situation analysis, as well as providing Logistics (WFP) advice in preparation of action plans by national and - Technical support in the definitions and regional authorities. implementation of the logistic scheme for emergency response; implementation of the 33. The UN system is providing humanitarian SUMA tool for handling and administering support in six areas: food, shelter, health, early donations; technical support to the Mesa De recovery, water and sanitation, and logistics. The Alimentos (food sector). actions carried out by the different UN Agencies are as follows: 34. The United Nations Ecuador System will continue to provide its support in the established Food (WFP) areas of action, in constant coordination with the - Delivery of 135 MT of food. National Government.

Shelter (IOM, UNICEF) IMMEDIATE NEEDS - Training in administration of shelters and assessments; development of software for the 35. The different sectors have been requested to administration of shelters. identify the most urgent humanitarian needs. Information management and quality data need Health (PHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, IOM) improvement. An ECHO assessment in the province - Implementation of the health contingency of Los Ríos and Manabí, identified main areas of plan; installation of the regional situation needs as follows: Room; donation of 200 000 oral re-hydration salt doses to the Ministry of Public Health; Emergency Operations Committees are support to processes of psycho-social operational at the local level but have reduced recovery by training 500 volunteers; delivery resources. Major needs include logistics, to shelters and outside shelters of didactic, telecommunication equipment, rescue equipment educational and recreational material for boys boats, life jackets, etc. and girls; and distribution of hygienic kits and informative material about domestic violence Shelter: major needs are water and sanitation and prevention of HIV/AIDS. (drinking water, potable water, latrines, pumps, hygiene kits, etc.), health (medicines, fumigation, Early recovery (PNUD, FAO) etc.), food (especially for children), non-food - Identification of projects for rehabilitation of items (mattresses, kitchens, kitchen utensils, social basic infrastructure and rural and urban mosquito nets, and cleaning kits), shelter livelihoods; creation of a multidisciplinary infrastructure (as schools are crowded - for team in charge of designing a communication

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example one classroom hosts 4 to 5 families with only 1 mattress per family).

Isolated parrroquias and communities have not received any aid. Major needs are for water and sanitation, food, and health.

36. The Ecuadorian military has requested additional zodiac boats, mobile kitchens, tents, and medical supplies to aid in the relief effort.

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For detailed information please contact:

Contact Details Desk Officer (New York) Ms. Heidi Kuttab Office Tel: + 1 917 367-3365 Office Fax: + 1 212 963-36 30 E-mail: [email protected]

Humanitarian Affairs Officer Ms. Aoibheann O’Keeffe Office Tel: + 41 22 917 4329 GCMS (Geneva) E-mail: [email protected]

OCHA Regional Office in Mr. Max Bonnel Office Tel: + 507 317 1748 - 49 Panama E-mail: [email protected]

Press Contact: (New York) Ms. Stephanie Bunker Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126 Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312 Email: [email protected]

Ms. Christina Bennett Office Tel: + 1 917 367 8059 Office Fax: + 1 212 963 1312 Email: [email protected]

(Geneva) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Office Tel + 41 22 917 26 53 Office Fax + 41 22 917 00 20 E-mail: [email protected]