100 babies born every day in areas worst hit by Ecuador quake: UNICEF

[Judi Lynn]

100 babies born every day in areas worst hit by Ecuador quake: UNICEF

Source: Xinhua 2016-05-17 05:12:10

UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Monday reported that on average, up to 100 babies are born every day in Esmeraldas and Manabí, the provinces worst hit by the Ecuador earthquake.

"In a region where one in five children suffers from diarrhoea and chronic malnutrition, it is essential to provide these babies with the basic needs to survive and thrive," Grant Leaity, the UNICEF representative in Ecuador, said in a press release.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which hit the country on April 16, killed 660 people, destroyed water systems and affected 33 health centers, half of which are not operational. The tremor also damaged or destroyed some 560 schools and close to 10,000 buildings.

According to UNICEF, an immediate response led by the government is allowing 75 percent of children to return to school and providing an integrated response to over 30,000 people living in official shelters, including basic assistance, medical and psychological support.

More:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/17/c_135363894.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Ecuador Sets Out for Reconstruction a Month After Earthquake

Ecuador Sets Out for Reconstruction a Month After Earthquake

Quito, May 16 (Prensa Latina) A month after the earthquake that devastated Ecuadorâ�Ös northwest coast, authorities focus today meeting the basic needs of thousands of victims, while the reconstruction works began.
On Monday, religious services will take place across the country to remember the 660 mortal victims of the earthquake last April 16th.

The masses will begin at 18:58 local time, exact time in which the 7.8-earthquake rocked the country for almost a minute, bringing down thousands of buildings in the coastal province of Manabí and neighboring Esmeralda.

In Manta and Portoviejo, the hotel and commercial sector registered the biggest damages, while in other area like Pedernales or Canoa, very close to the epicenter, 90 percent of the buildings were destroyed.

According to official data, around 33,500 people who lost their homes have been relocated in 19 temporary shelters provided by the government, while other dozens of victims remain in make-shift camps along the road or near their destroyed houses.

The reconstruction of the affected areas, led by a government committee, will take months, maybe years, said President Rafael Correa, who calculated that the losses will exceed the 3 billion dollars.

Last Saturday, in his traditional weekly report, Correa offered details of a government program to provide houses to the nearly 7,000 families who lost their homes. The plan includes the construction of houses in safe areas, with a value of 10,000 dollars, out of which 9,000 will be provided by the State.

http://www.plenglish.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4882761&Itemid=1

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