Following the powerful earthquake suffered by Ecuador on Saturday 16 April 2016 which has already claimed nearly 350 lives, over 2,500 injured and countless victims, SOS Villages d'Enfants (Monde), like many NGOs, is committed to helping children and families victims of the worst earthquake the country has known for almost 40 years, with a call for solidarity.
With its field presence in Equador for over 50 years and its strong networks, SOS Villages d'Enfants Ecuador reacted immediately assessed the situation and to meet the needs of disaster victims in general, and children in particular. As for SOS Villages d'Enfants, families and staff are safe and infrastructure did not suffer major damage. For safety, the team of SOS Villages d'Enfants at Esmeraldas evacuated children and mothers when a tsunami warning was launched.
The association undertakes needs assessment among the beneficiaries of its programmes and the communities it supports. It has also just launched an emergency aid programme for the victims, primarily unaccompanied children or those separated from their families and those who risk finding themselves alone.
Andreas Papp, director of international emergency aid, expressed the "urgent need to provide humanitarian assistance to children and families in communities affected by the earthquake." He added "We are very fortunate that the SOS families have not suffered and that villages are spared but SOS Villages d'Enfants is well positioned - in coastal areas affected by the earthquake and around the country - to meet rapidly protection needs of other children and support families who need help." For its part, the government sent a team in the field of child protection, which will provide guidelines to ensure protection and care of all children.
Through this relief, it is a priority for SOS Ecuador to distribute food, water and non-food products to the communities with which it already works, offer shelter to victims, protect and take care of unaccompanied children, opening reception areas for children and provide access to medical support. Activities must start quickly in Pedernales, a town destroyed and plunged into desolation. This was confirmed by Gontran Pelissier, National Director of SOS Ecuador, who speaks of the despair of the people met and those families who still seek their relatives under the rubble.
To support children and families affected by the earthquake, it is possible to donate by bank transfer: CCPLLULL IBAN LU65 1111 0050 0053 0000 (SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde, marked "Emergency Ecuador") or online at www.sosve.lu
Photo by Fernando Espinoza
