Heavy rainfalls in the coastal regions of Ecuador at the beginning of the year led to regionwide floods causing the Government to declare a State of Emergency on 31 January.Further heavy rains of 15/16 February caused an emergency situation with flooding and landslides.
According to the National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (INHAMI), climatic changes provoked more heavy rains than in previous years. Rivers already obstructed by sediment could not take the additional quantity of water and flooded. This also triggered mudslides in the same area and rains lasted until late May.
According to information obtained from the Government, between March and April 2008 350,000 people were severely affected and required humanitarian assistance. Of this caseload, the Ministry of Litoral (Coastal Ministry) provided food assistance to 250,000 people until the end of May.
Simultaneously, the National Committee for Regional Emergency Response (COER) reported total loss of 82,000 ha and further damages of 137,000 ha. Crops lost include banana, cacao, sugar, rice and corn crops. Due to the heavy destruction of national infrastructure (e.g. 237 major in-country roads, 25 bridges, 1,681 schools and houses), the Government’s initial estimates indicate losses at over US$ 200 million.
Based on current government information at the time of preparing this document, over 80 percent of shelters for flood victims have closed. Some schools were used as shelters and students needed to go back to classes.
The Government affirmed that the recovery process, especially in the agricultural sector, will continue until the end of 2008. In this political framework and in response to the Government’s request, WFP will assist with recovery activities to enable this population to regain self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. Flood victims have lost their crops, their productive means and assets, and in many cases, their job or income opportunities.
In an effort to provide immediate relief to this population, WFP supported government efforts through an IR-EMOP (10738.0) from March 1st to May 31st, 2008. WFP provided ready-to-eat meals in the form of high energy biscuits, which were incorporated into food rations distributed by the Government. WFP also provided technical cooperation in emergency assessment, warehousing and local purchases.
In mid-March, with rains still ongoing and the IR-EMOP fully operational, WFP carried out an Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) in order to evaluate the new situation. The assessment took place in 32 of the most affected cantons (administrative units) located in five provinces.
Based on these findings, WFP is now seeking international assistance to help the flood victims overcome this natural disaster, ensure food security until the next harvest and strengthen the disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response capacity of the local emergency committees.
This operation contributes to WFP’s Strategic Objective 3: “Restore and rebuild lives and livelihoods in post-conflict, post-disaster or transition situations”, in accordance with MDG1: “Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger” and Strategic Objective 2: “Prevent acute hunger and invest in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures”.
