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Ecuador

Ecuador: Volcanic eruption Emergency Appeal No. MDRXX000

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The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.

In Brief

THIS EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS CHF 632,064 (USD 514,753 OR EUR 400,384) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO ASSIST 5,000 BENEFICIARIES (1,000 BENEFICIARY FAMILIES) FOR 5 MONTHS

In view of increased needs following the most recent volcanic eruption and the current instability of the Tungurahua volcano, the funding sought under this Emergency Appeal will complement the Disaster Relief Emergency (DREF) funding of CHF 85,000 (USD 68,079 or EUR 54,092) which was allocated to the Ecuadorian Red Cross on 19 July to assist those affected by the disaster. The International Federation undertakes activities that are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Global Agenda Goals:

- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.

- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.

- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

The situation

The Tungurahua Volcano, located 180 kilometres south of the capital of Quito and one of the most active volcanoes in the country began emitting loud and frequent explosions in May of this year. This showed an increase in activity since re-awakening nearly seven years ago, after having been inactive for eight decades - prompting a limited state of emergency at the time.

On 14 July 2006, the Tungurahua volcano began spewing ash, gas and molten rock - with ash rising 15 kilometres, and molten rock being thrown 500 metres above the crater. The Ecuadorian Geophysics Institute reported that the 5,023 meters high volcano had changed its behaviour drastically by expelling at least four lava flows - the first since activity resumed in May. In response to this situation, support from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) was allocated, with an amount of CHF 85,000 (USD 68,079 or EUR 54,092) on 19 July 2006 to respond to the immediate needs of this operation. The Ecuadorian Red Cross (ERC) was able to activate its emergency plan of action and more than 240 volunteers were immediately mobilized to the^area.

The Plan of Action set out to assist 500 affected families (2,500 persons), which was increased to 537 families. It was intended that the funds would support the distribution of food packages, hygiene kits and psychosocial support activities. Since the latest eruption the plan of action has been modified, as the distribution of food packages will be covered by other funds and food donations. DREF funds will be used to cover hygiene kits and psychosocial support activities (3 visits per week to most affected communities) and strengthening capacities of volunteers in disaster preparedness activities together with the provision of protection kits (110 kits in total).

On 16 August, the Tungurahua volcano erupted once again, this time characterized by a number of explosions causing ash and volcanic rock to fall in nearby areas. The explosion lasted 24 hours; causing 15 pyroclastic flows to travel down through ravines into nearby areas. Two rivers, Chambo and Puela, were dammed by the pyroclastic flows causing them to overflow into land nearby. The cloud of ash from the explosions reached 10 kilometres high, 742 km in length and 185 km in breadth covering the central part of the country. The West of this cloud reached beyond the Ecuadorian coast and the East past the border with Peru.

Official figures state that 2 lives have been lost (although reports suggest 6 people), 150 people have been injured (attended to by the ERC) and 6 people have disappeared (although reports suggest 30 people). Securing detailed information about those affected is difficult at this stage as areas are not easy to access and information is varied. The ERC estimates that 300,000 people have been affected by the volcanic eruption. Since the eruption in July, increased reports of people with breathing problems, conjunctivitis, dermatitis and acute diarrhoea have come from the area. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is evaluating the health situation on the ground.

A state of emergency has been declared in the four main Provinces which have been affected by the volcanic eruption; Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Bolívar and Pastaza. At present there are shelters in the three worst affected Provinces; 14 shelters in Chimborazo, 4 in Tungurahua and 2 in Pastaza.

Although the government has been working on assessments to define how exactly many crops have been affected by the latest eruption, figures are showing that losses could reach US$150 million. In the Provinces affected by the Tungurahua volcanic eruption livelihoods depend on crops and the rearing of cattle. It is estimated that 40,000 cattle or animals could be lost after the latest volcanic eruption; reports reveal that cattle are suffering from digestive and respiratory problems. The area affected is productive in crops such as maize, potatoes and vegetables; it is estimated that 80,000 hectares of crops near the volcano could be at risk.

The recent eruption has affected the national infrastructure as the highway between La Pampa and Los Pájaros, connecting the central Andean region to the Amazon, was blocked by pyroclastic flows, ash and molten rock. Local authorities have been working with additional support to clear and unblock the highway to secure access to affected areas.

On 17 August, the President of Ecuador visited the affected areas around Tungurahua and met with local authorities to discuss the situation. The Ecuadorian government including the Ministries of Defence, Public Health, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Housing, and Civil Defence met with the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) and other organizations to evaluate the situation.

The Government declared the area a "disaster zone" on 17 August enabling immediate measures to be taken for the relief of those worst affected. Assistance to the affected population is being coordinated by central Government with local governments, the ERC, the UNDMT and other cooperation agencies.

The following day the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a report to embassies and international organizations informing of the latest eruption of the Tungurahua volcano stating the need for support in food items, medicines and provisions to assist the affected population. This report was compiled by the Emergency System of the United Nations (UN) in Ecuador with the help of Civil Defence, the ERC and the Ecuadorian Geophysics Institute. The report warns of the devastating effects that the latest volcanic eruption has caused in the four nearby Provinces and falling ash in seven Provinces of the country.

Since 1999 the ERC has been working actively in the area supporting a number of activities including disaster preparedness programmes in Tungurahua, Chimborazo and Pastaza. Through this work, awareness has been raised in the community about the risks, which was demonstrated through the rapid evacuations after the last eruption. Since the latest events, the ERC has installed two early warning systems in two localities in Pastaza, La Isla and Rio Grande. Reactivation of the agricultural sector has been promoted and a primary health care project has been implemented. Humanitarian assistance was provided in 1999 in the first evacuation (as the volcano had been dormant for 8 decades prior to this date), and two further humanitarian assistance projects took place following the eruptions of 2002 and 2004. Institutional strengthening has also been provided to local branches. Since 1999, the number of local branches has increased from two to five. Recently the community of Moche has shown interest in setting up a local branch, showing the importance of the work of the ERC in the area.

Since the Tungurahua volcano erupted in July, the ERC has been working in the affected areas, actively supporting the relief and evacuation efforts particularly in distribution of food and non-food items, search and rescue operations, first aid care and psychosocial support. The ERC has confirmed that in total 5,517 families (25,028 people) have been attended to so far.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Ecuador: Ecuadorian Red Cross, Jorge Arteaga López, National Relief Director, Quito; phone 593-2- 2954587; fax 593-2-295-72-56; mobile phone 593-9-8371632; email jarteaga@cruzroja.org.ec

In Lima, Peru: Natalia Gomez de Travesedo, Acting Head of Regional Delegation, natalia.gomezdetravesedo@ifrc.org , (511) 221 9006, fax (511) 441-3607

In Panama: Stephen McAndrew, Coordinator of Federation Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) Panama; email stephen.mcandrew@ifrc.org, phone (507) 316-1001, fax (507) 316-1082

In Geneva: Olaug Bergseth, Federation Regional Officer, America Department, e-mail: olaug.bergseth@ifrc.org, phone:41-22-730-4535, fax: 41-22-733-0395

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.

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