UN relief chief announces fund for aid operations in Ecuador in wake of strong quake

A senior UN official on Thursday announced that 7 million U.S. dollars have been allocated from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to kick-start vital operations in logistics, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and emergency health in quake-hit Ecuador.

The UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and UN emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien made the announcement as he wrapped up his two-day visit to Ecuador.

He said that the United Nations and partners would be launching the full Flash Appeal for the Ecuadorean relief operation on Friday to help some 350,000 people with immediate relief and initial recovery assistance within the next three months, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme is scaling up its operations with food kits, commodity vouchers, and, where markets are functioning, with cash-based transfers.

The United Nations Development Programme is opening a special recovery office in the coastal city of Manta, around 260 km from the capital of Quito, to immediately initiate reconstruction in the most impacted areas. Debris removal activities will begin in the next few days, offering emergency employment and opportunities to boost livelihoods.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), headed by O'Brien, hundreds have been killed, thousands injured and over 720,000 people were affected.

The government of Ecuador, local emergency responders, the Red Cross and other organizations are working together to provide people with food, drinking water, shelter, emergency medical assistance and other basic services, including restoring electricity.

The 7.8-magnitude quake, which struck Ecuador Saturday night, has killed at least 413 people, and more than 2,500 others were injured, reports said. Enditem