UCC Ecuador earthquake response

by Carol Fouke-Mpoyo | published on Jan 30, 2017

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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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.