Development and Peace – Caritas Canada is closely monitoring the situation in Ecuador after a violent earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck the country on Saturday April 16, 2016. The organization stands in solidarity with the victims of this quake, the worst experienced by Ecuador since 1979.
According to the latest information, the death toll has reached at least 350 people, but is expected to increase as rescue teams continue to search through rubble for survivors. Over 2,000 people were injured and 10,000 more are in need of assistance. A state of emergency has been declared by the government.
Development and Peace has allocated $50,000 to support emergency relief efforts. Caritas Ecuador, a Development and Peace partner organization, is in constant contact with its field teams and has begun an evaluation in order to identify the needs of survivors and prepare to assist them in the best way possible.
Development and Peace has been working in Ecuador since the beginning of the 1970s. The organization supports indigenous groups, particularly women from vulnerable communities, as well as human rights defenders, and peasant farmers.
Donations can be made at devp.org/ecuador;
by phone at 1-888-234-8533;
also by sending a cheque made out to Development and Peace (please indicate Earthquake in Ecuador) to 1425 René-Lévesque Blvd. W., 3rd Floor, Montreal, QC, H3G 1T7.
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For more information please contact:
Kelly Di Domenico, Communications Officer
514 257-8711 ext. 365
kelly.didomenico@devp.org