Earthquake: UN Drums Support for Ecuador, Releases $7m

…$72.7m needed to assist victims

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

United Nations (UN) office in Ecuador has called on the international community to assist Ecuador over a massive earthquake that hit the country recently.

The flash appeal that was launched on April 22, indicated that $72.7m was needed to assist people in need over the next three months.

The impact of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake (Richter scale) on April 16 that struck coastal areas in North-west Ecuador has been a major concern to Ecuador and global community.

A statement released by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien said: “I have also decided to release $7 million through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to rapidly scale up the life-saving assistance and to support the coordinated, coherent efforts of humanitarian partners.

“I thank those member states who have already responded and call today on all others to do likewise.”

He added that UN was providing complementary support to government relief efforts.

O’Brien noted that On April 17, a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) was deployed to support on-site coordination in the towns of Manta, Porto Viejo, Pedernales and Quito.

He disclosed that In close coordination with the National Disaster Management Agency (Secretaria de Gestión del Riesgo, SGR) and the UN-managed Secretariat for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), a number of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams were also deployed.

On his part the Ambassador of Ecuador to Nigeria, Leopoldo Rovayo said his government opened an official account that could be used to send a donation.

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