EU humanitarian aid to Ecuador

The European Commission has approved €800 000 of aid for Ecuador to help people in coastal areas affected by the flooding caused by heavy rainfall throughout February, March and April. The money will be used to pay for restoration of drinking water supplies to some 10 000 families and help a further 4 000 families regain a measure of self-sufficiency. The allocation is from the Commission's Humanitarian Aid office, ECHO, which comes under Commissioner Poul Nielson. Since 1999 ECHO has granted Ecuador upwards of €3 million in humanitarian aid.

Heavy rains in February, March and April caused widespread flooding in Ecuador, washing away roads and bridges in coastal areas and destroying over 7 000 homes as well as many rice, coffee, maize, banana and cocoa fields. Local authorities provided immediate relief but much remains to be done. The ECHO grant will be used to repair water supply systems and purify stagnant or polluted water in order to provide access to drinking water for almost 10 000 families and help prevent the spread of disease, and to improve the food security of a further 4 000 peasant families by distributing seed, small livestock and tools. Some of the money will be used to improve local disaster prevention and preparedness capacity.

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