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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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April
2008
Volume
14
- Number 3 |
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By Robert Ulizio
Since January
2008, Ecuador has undergone intense rainfall
and flooding due to La Nina. This has been Ecuador's
heaviest rain in approximately 25 years and the floods have
plunged the country into crisis. The floods have uprooted tens of
thousands of
people and destroyed millions of dollars of crops, threatening food
shortages.
All of the infrastructure, electrical, and communication systems have
also been
severely damaged. The government has
declared a national emergency and called for international aid.
President
Rafael Correa said on his latest weekly radio show: "This is not an
emergency, this is a disaster. We don't have enough resources to help
all the
victims." La
Nina, which in
Spanish means “little girl” could not be more deceiving of a name as a
result
of the damage it has caused. La Nina is
an unusual cooling of Pacific Ocean surface temperatures that can
trigger
widespread changes in weather around the world, including more
hurricanes and
the worst torrential rains in many places. Flooding is not unusual
during
Ecuador's rainy season, which runs from December to the end of May. (1) The
media has
reported that the death toll was at 16, while the number of affected is
around
300,000. Ecuadorian Troops have been deployed to help with evacuations
and
distribute aid. The Ecuadorian
government has developed a plan of action and has mapped available
resources. Rafael Correa, the
Ecuador
President, has ordered the Army to help thousands of evacuees and also
extended
an emergency decree in a bid to deliver about $21 million in funds to
affected
areas. Three United
Nations Technical Emergency
Teams and the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team
has been
deployed to the area to assess the situation. (2) The
government says
more than $161 million of crops have been lost due to the floods. Hundreds of banana, rice and cocoa
plantations have been submerged underwater. The implications for
agriculture
could be dire. The farm ministry estimates 30 percent of crops have
been
damaged and more than 252,000 acres of land flooded. It has warned of
possible
food shortages as a result. UNICEF
says that the effects of the rains include; overflowing rivers,
submerged
crops, destruction of fields and houses, displacements, and death of
animals.
Schools and churches are being used as temporary shelters. There is a
high risk
of an outbreak of diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, diarrhea,
respiratory
infections, skin diseases, leptospirosis and problems caused by snake
bites.
UNICEF is planning to deliver at the government of Ecuador’s request,
hygiene
kits, 400 “Return to Happiness” backpacks, as well as 500 water tanks
and 14
water chloride equipments. (3) This morning, the Pontifical Council
Cor Unum sent financial aid
from the Pope for the people of Ecuador who have been affected by
recent
flooding and the eruption of the volcano Tungurahua. A communiqué issued by the
Vatican Press Office today announced
that the Holy Father has “sent a first consignment of emergency
economic aid to
the 11 Ecuadorian dioceses affected by recent flooding.” (4) Weather experts say they expect more rain to fall in western Ecuador right up until late March. Sources(1) http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EDIS-7CAM9L?OpenDocument (2) http://mwcnews.net/content/view/20421/56/ (3) http://www.unicef.org/media/media_43043.html (4) http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11893 |