This project will respond to the devastating earthquake that ravaged several provinces of Ecuador, specifically Manabi and Esmeraldas, to support the local authorities and provide essential relief aid, medical services, child friendly spaces, and psychosocial care, as needed. A special emphasis will be placed on the most vulnerable groups, especially women and children.
On April 16th 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the coastal Ecuadorean town of Muisne, rapidly followed by 7.9 and 7.3 magnitude tremors, the first of more than 230 aftershocks that have hit the northwestern coast of this small South American country. So far, 272 lives were lost, and 2,527 injured, with numbers widely expected to increase significantly, as images and informal reports of mass devastation surface online.
IsraAID is deploying its Emergency Relief Team on site to assist with relief efforts and the long-term response strategy. The mission will include veteran aid workers, a medical contingent, and a psychosocial team. Their mission will be to provide 1) food and relief supplies, 2) emergency medical assistance, and 3) child friendly spaces and psychosocial support to the survivors of the quake, emphasizing those who lost their homes, specifically women and children.
The first few days of a disaster are crucial towards minimizing its long-term destructive effects. Beyond that, as part of IsraAID's core emphasis on long-term recovery, the team will coordinate and engage with local authorities and international response teams to a) build the long-term recovery strategy, and b) share the expertise and knowledge in the medical and psychosocial sectors that IsraAID has accrued in 15 years of operations across 35 countries.
