UCC Ecuador earthquake response
April 16, 2016, earthquake 7.8 on the Richter scale, with subsequent aftershocks and quakes, just weeks after severe floods (in January 2016).
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NEW! RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION AND ACTION
Ecuador Earthquake Materials for Children
Tabletop Town – Ecuador Earthquake Youth Activity
Ecuador Earthquake Recovery Bulletin Insert
663 died
6,274 were injured
28,827 were displaced to shelters
Half a million people were directly affected
166 schools were affected with medium or severe damage
90 percent of houses were affected
– Sources: Secretary of Risk Management, via FEDICE, May 2016; ACT Alliance Ecuador Earthquake Appeal, May 25, 2016
Deadliest quake to hit the small South American country in decades. A state of emergency was declared in all of Ecuador’s six coastal provinces. Hotels turned to rubble and roads and bridges collapsed, as did hundreds of homes and a shopping center.
UCC Disaster Ministries’ Response:
The United Church of Christ One Great Hour of Sharing and The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Week of Compassion issued a joint special appeal for $500,000 for Ecuador earthquake relief and recovery.
In the year following the earthquake, UCC Disaster Ministries sent nearly $18,000 ($17,931) to help survivors get through the initial emergency and take steps to long-term recovery.
UCC Disaster Ministries’ support helped 6,000 families in two provinces with Food Security, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Community Based Psychological Support, and Non-Food Items.
It also is helping 30 families in Sua, Esmeraldes, Ecuador, re-establish livelihoods following the January floods and April earthquakes. Microloans of $300 per family funded purchase of “inputs” ranging from chickens to pots and pans, from foodstuffs for catering to clothing for resale at a profit, and from business equipment to taxi repairs. (Pictured here: Microloan recipient Lucy R. prepares food for sale.) Small monthly interest payments cover the expenses of the community kitchen and support a cooperative.
That work is being coordinated by FEDICE (“Faith Says”), a Global Ministries bilateral partner in Ecuador.
“I fully expect that we will be engaged for the long term … in Ecuador, where there has been significant damage throughout the country,” said UCC Disaster Ministries Executive Zach Wolgemuth.
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For More Information:
2017
April 14: One year after Ecuador earthquake, UCC continues to support recovery
2016
July 22: UCC Gives Hope to Ecuador Community After Double Disaster
May 25: ACT Alliance Ecuador Earthquake Appeal
May 24: Ecuador Earthquake Update from FEDICE
May 12: Ecuador Earthquake Update from Global Ministries Partner FEDICE
April 27: Ecuador Earthquake Update from FEDICE
April 25: Joint Appeal for Ecuador Quake Relief
April 22: Ecuador, Japan Suffer Massive Earthquakes
April 22: ACT Alliance: Ecuador Earthquake Preliminary Appeal
April 19: Disaster Ministries Sends Aid to Earthquake Survivors in Ecuador, Japan
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