Ecuadorian president invites quake victims to official shelters

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa asked the victims of the April 16 earthquake who are still scattered in improvised refuges to go to official shelters for proper care on Tuesday.

"There are still lots of spontaneous shelters and we perfectly understand that people are scared of sleeping under a roof after the earthquake and aftershocks, but little by little we are asking all these people to return to their houses or come to the official shelters," the president said.

Correa made the request upon arriving at Jama Canton in the western coastal province of Manabi, the area most affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed 663 and affected almost 29,000 people.

Some victims are still scattered in parks or on the street where basic living conditions are not available.

According to the government, 19 official shelters have been set up in the affected areas and another seven are planned to be built.

The official shelters, said Correa, have comfortable tents, basic services, electricity, dining areas, kitchens, bathrooms and health posts which guarantee adequate care for the victims.

Correa pledged recently that he would dedicate his last year in office to attending to the crisis caused by the earthquake. Endite