IOM Tracks Families Displaced by Ecuador Earthquake, Identifies Humanitarian Needs
Ecuador - IOM, through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) and in close coordination with the Government of Ecuador, has released the first findings of the main needs and vulnerabilities currently faced by displaced people in Manabi and Esmeraldas, two of the six Ecuadorian provinces affected by the 16th April 2016 earthquake.
The report is based on initial information provided by Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES), and includes data on 11,000 people from 76 assessed displacement sites, located in the districts of Manta, Jama and Portoviejo in the province of Manabi, and the district of Muisne in the province of Esmeraldas.
Estimates by the Ministry of Housing indicate that up to 73,000 people are displaced in these provinces, including 33,000 displaced in collective centers and spontaneous camps identified by the MIES. This number only includes sites hosting ten or more families.
The DTM results indicate that 20 out of the 76 sites assessed are located in open spaces and 19 (25 percent) of the sites evaluated were schools before the earthquake.
Regarding the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) needs, the report indicates that the distribution of water varies according to location (rural or urban areas) as well as the presence of the government authorities and the armed forces.
Over 50 percent of the sites reported receiving more than 2 litres of drinking water per person a day. But 37 percent of the sites were not receiving any drinking water. Six percent reported receiving less than two litters per person.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in rural areas also reported poor hygiene and sanitation. The number of latrines was insufficient in most cases. In some sites there were either no latrines or one latrine for 100 people or more. The report also showed that many showers and toilets in the sites are not segregated for men and women.
With regard to food and nutrition, in 34 percent of the sites assessed, food distribution was irregular, while in 22 percent of the sites food was delivered on a daily basis. In 18 percent of sites it was delivered twice a week. Most of the sites reported not receiving supplementary food for lactating and pregnant women and children.
The main health problem reported in 33 percent of cases was acute respiratory infections. In 20 percent it was diarrhoea. With the poor sanitary conditions in most of the sites visited, vector-borne diseases could also increase, with growing numbers of mosquitoes reported.
“The prompt response by the national authorities, and national support for people affected by the earthquake, has been instrumental in addressing priority needs,” said IOM Ecuador Chief of Mission Damien Thuriaux.
“These DTM results are key for quickly identifying the most important needs of the affected population, and will provide the government and its humanitarian partners with accurate and reliable data to respond to the emergency,” he added.
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) and the Canadian government are currently funding IOM’s DTM activities.
The report also includes information about livelihoods, security and information needs. It can be downloaded here:
For more information please contact Juliana Quintero or Jimena Almeida at IOM Ecuador, Emails: juquintero@iom.int, jalmeida@iom.int, Tel: +593 99 9666640