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Vulnerable populations in urgent need of assistance after Ecuadorian quake: IFRC

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Some 10,000 children under five have been affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Ecuador, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported Wednesday.

An additional 10,000 survivors are aged over 65 while 4,000 are pregnant women, said the IFRC.

"We are working on a very big operation, in six provinces that are among the most affected," said IFRC Americas Regional Director Walter Cotte in a statement.

"The Ecuadorian Red Cross will focus its response in rural and remote areas and on providing support to vulnerable groups such as young children who may need early relief, wound management and psychosocial support," he added.

According to IFRC, health priorities include triage, first aid, pre-hospital care, trauma care, wound management, tetanus prevention, surgery, and psychosocial support.

Latest figures released earlier Wednesday by Ecuador's National Secretariat for Risk Management reveal that 525 people have died and more than 4,000 been injured by the seism. Endit