The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an emergency appeal for 632,064 Swiss francs (USD 514,753/EUR 400,384) to support the Ecuadorian Red Cross in assisting 5,000 people affected by the Tungurahua volcano eruption of 16 August. The eruption left four people dead and 65 injured, two are still reported missing. It affected more than 300,000 people.
The appeal aims to help vulnerable people in two of the most affected provinces – Tungurahua and Chimborazo. The funds will be used to provide essential relief for up to 1,000 families over the next four months – including food, hygiene articles, cleaning products, blankets, torches, spades, masks and protective glasses. Water and sanitation services, psychological support as well as basic health care will also be provided.
In the provinces affected by the eruption livelihoods depend on crops and the rearing of cattle. It is estimated that 40,000 cattle or animals could be lost and 80,000 hectares of crops could be at risk.
"We are particularly concerned about the health of the people, since ashes spewed out by the volcano are already causing acute respiratory tract infections,” explains Ecuadorian Red Cross President Juan Cueva. “We are also putting in place measures to prevent epidemics which could be a consequence of the use of contaminated water. Some people are traumatized by this crisis, and that is why we have psychological support teams working with families, particularly with children, to help them deal with this crisis,” he adds.
Volunteers and staff from the Ecuadorian Red Cross have been involved in evacuation efforts and are distributing relief supplies, including hygiene articles and food parcels, to more than 5,500 families in the Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Pastaza and Bolivar provinces, with funds from the International Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund and in-kind donations.
The Tungurahua Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the country, began spewing gas in May, and erupted on 14 July. The second eruption this year took place on 16 August. This time, some fifteen pyroclastic flows made their way down through ravines into nearby areas. The Geophysical Institute of Ecuador believes further explosions could happen over the coming months.
With more than 5,000 volunteers nationally, the Ecuadorian Red Cross is well-positioned to respond quickly when disaster strikes. The National Society has a wide experience in managing disaster relief and preparedness activities carrying out four main programmes; building up relief capacities, disaster relief policies, strategic relief warehouses and community-based relief.