Roundup: Ecuador speeds up rebuilding process as state of emergency renews

Ecuador is speeding up rebuilding work in the areas affected by the magnitude-7.8 earthquake on April 16, while the state of emergency has been renewed.

Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa announced Thursday through an executive decree that his government has renewed the state of emergency for another 30 days in the states of Esmeraldas, Manabi, Santa Elena, Los Rios, Guayas and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas.

The decree grants emergency powers to authorities, especially the army and police, to coordinate efforts in preventing risks and improving the conditions caused by the earthquake.

Sixty days have passed since the fatal earthquake, the worst in the South American country in 70 years that has killed 668 people, injured 4,859 and displaced around 80,000.

Correa said that 398 machines and 419 dumper trucks are currently working in the affected areas. "The process being carried out is gigantic," said the president.

Rebuilding the affected areas will cost some 3.344 billion U.S. dollars, according to the National Secretariat for Planning and Development.

The Ecuadoran government will cover three quarters of the costs, and the rest will come from the private sector.

The April earthquake has demolished around 29,000 houses and public buildings, destroyed 875 schools and 51 medical centers, and damaged 83 km of roads.

Vice President Jorge Glas, head of the Reconstruction and Recovery Committee, said "rebuilding is a challenge that demands all our effort."

While rebuilding is going on, thousands of earthquake victims are spending their daily lives in the official shelters of tents donated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and China. These shelters have basic facilities, including sleeping mats, kitchen sets and some security services.

However, there are hundreds of victims still living in improvised, unofficial shelters which are just primitive plastic tents. Endi