OTTAWA, April 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Thanks to the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund, Humanitarian Coalition members CARE Canada and Plan International Canada were able to assist impacted individuals and communities with timely emergency relief aid following the devastating earthquake that hit Ecuador on April 16.
Within 48 hours of the earthquake, CARE Canada received $400,000 from the fund, while Plan received $350,000 a few days later to assist with on the ground humanitarian efforts to provide basic services, such as shelter, clean water, health care and sanitation. CARE will also provide non-food items and psychosocial support to survivors.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador's central coast, killing more than 600 people and injuring 12,500. An estimated 720,000 people were affected. More than 700 aftershocks have been registered to date. Initial reports showed 2,740 buildings are destroyed and more than 829 are damaged, with 281 schools affected leaving roughly 90,000 students out of school. The Government of Ecuador is taking the lead and responsibility for the immediate response to the emergency. NGOs and international organizations will coordinate their response with state institutions.
Both CARE Canada and Plan International Canada have a strong, well established presence in Ecuador and in the earthquake affected areas and these funds will help local teams provide life-saving support to survivors. The two Humanitarian Coalition member agencies are coordinating their response on the ground to ensure delivery of assistance isn't duplicated.
The Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund is a joint mechanism between the Humanitarian Coalition, its member agencies and Global Affairs Canada.
SOURCE Humanitarian Coalition
Yosé Cormier, Communications Advisor, Humanitarian Coalition, 613-292-2687, [email protected]
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