Logistics Augmentation and Coordination in Response to the Earthquake in Ecuador

On 16 April 2016 at 06:58 pm local time, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the northern coast of Ecuador. A state of emergency has been declared in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo, Manabí, Guayas, Los Ríos and Santa Elena. Government reports indicate hundreds of people killed, thousands injured and many more displaced.

The Government of Ecuador, through the Secretariat for Risk Management has appealed to the international community for support on 19 April 2016. International relief efforts are ongoing, including the deployment of an UNDAC Team, with whom WFP is working closely with on Logistics coordination. Several National Sectors were activated by the Government of Ecuador comprising relevant Government Ministries and departments, UN Agencies, and Non-Governmental Organizations. The sectors will be

responsible for identification of needs within the sectors and ensuring that the needs are addressed. Through this Special Operation, WFP, as global lead agency for the Logistics Cluster, will support the logistics coordination and information management for the earthquake response under the leadership of the Government of Ecuador.

Through this special operation WFP will support the relief efforts of the Humanitarian Community and of the Government of Ecuador. The special operation provides for:

• Logistics coordination, GIS mapping and information management for the logistics response;
• Logistics augmentation including: strategic airlifts and temporary interagency storage and cargo reception facilities.

This special operation will have an initial duration of 3 months at a total estimated cost of US$2,038,330.