EU humanitarian assistance to Ecuador

The European Commission is providing humanitarian assistance worth €448,000 for relief efforts in the region of Ecuador affected by Sunday's eruption of the "El Reventador" volcano. The aid is being channeled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson. The funding decision, taken under the "primary emergency procedure"(1), enables assistance to be dispatched immediately to the affected population.

Although few casualties have been reported as an immediate result of the eruption, the area around the volcano has been coated with a layer of volcanic ash up to three centimeters deep. Several thousand people have been evacuated from their homes and others are now suffering serious after-effects including respiratory and eye problems caused by gas and ashes. Physical damage includes the pollution of water supplies and an increasing number of collapsed roofs. The homes of poorer people in the region are particularly affected.

7,000 vulnerable families will receive special kits containing various relief supplies. Items to be distributed include protective masks and glasses, hygiene and house-cleaning materials, basic medicines and food. The aid package also covers distribution of drinking water and water purification equipment.

ECHO's partners responsible for implementing these operations are the Spanish Red Cross and the Italian NGO, COOPI.


(1) Instrument established in June 2001 to enable the Commission to respond immediately to sudden-onset crises. Funding of up to €3 million can be provided for emergency relief operations, using a simplified, fast-track budgetary procedure, with the decision-making power delegated to ECHO's Director. Vital help can thus be provided to victims when they are most vulnerable, in the period just after the catastrophe.

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