ECUADOR
The Citizen Solidarity and Joint Responsibility Law has raised about US$500 million, as of June, as response to the 16 April earthquake. Authorities have already used $140 million of this amount - $70 million for the province of Esmeraldas. Reconstruction efforts continue in the north coastal areas of Ecuador.
National authorities via El Telégrafo.
PERU
About 300 tons of humanitarian aid were sent to the province of Caylloma (Arequipa region) to assist nearly 6,000 people affected by the earthquake which also killed four people. Authorities have mobilized 2,000 tents, 5,700 blankets, 1,500 mattresses and 1,700 beds, plus about 20,000 litres of water and nearly 900 kilos of food. The 5.3 earthquake caused 400 houses to collapse and left 1,400 other buildings uninhabitable.
INDECI via Los Tiempos.
VENEZUELA-COLOMBIA
Colombian authorities report that since the gradual opening of the Colombian – Venezuelan border on 13 August, more than 326,000 people have crossed the border. The daily average of people entering Colombia from Venezuela is 54,000. The border is limited to pedestrians and is primarily used by Venezuelan citizens purchasing products in Colombia.
El Universal.
NICARAGUA
An uncontrolled fire on two oil tankers in Puerto Sandino (Pacific) has caused environmental damage. A 500-meter area has been directly affected by the oil spill, including an area of domestic production of salt. An estimated 12% of domestic salt is produced in this area and will negatively impact livelihoods of the local population.
The company responsible for the tanks, Puma Energy, is committed to mitigating the effects of the spill. The Government of Nicaragua has formed an interagency commission to control the fire.
OCHA
BOLIVIA
Some 133,000 families have been affected by drought in 7 departments - Oruro, Cochabamba (the two most affected) and Beni have declared a state of emergency for drought. The sectors most affected are water, sanitation and hygiene and food security. WFP carried out a rapid assessment in the department of Oruro and found that affected families are implementing survival strategies such as consuming food reserves, migrating and overworking work animals. These strategies could increase the risks of food insecurity, health and malnutrition.
Humanitarian Country Team