Water. Food. Shelter. These are things in short supply for hundreds of survivors of the April 16 earthquake in Ecuador. Though the Ecuadorian government has provided some emergencies supplies in affected communities, much more is needed. World Renew is responding by working through local churches.
Though the Ecuadorian government has provided some emergencies supplies in affected communities, much more is needed. World Renew is responding by working through local churches.
The 7.8 magnitude quake has already taken the lives of more than 500 people and has impacted thousands more. The quake and resulting landslides have damaged communications, transportation, and sanitation systems. Roads are blocked, buildings have been demolished, and thousands are now homeless.
Right now the most crucial needs that survivors face are for water and food…
“Right now the most crucial needs that survivors face are for water and food,” said Ken Little, World Renew’s Senior Project Manager. “As part of the Integral Alliance Network, World Renew is working to respond to these needs.”
World Renew’s primary partner on the ground is a local, Christian organization called Peace & Hope Ecuador (PHE). PHE has already distributed hundreds of water filters in the most affected areas where access to drinkable water is scarce.
As a next step, World Renew will work with PHE to identify and support Ecuadorian churches that can be access points for food distributions.
“Churches can be a great asset to disaster response ministry,” said Little. “They are already located in affected regions and have existing relationships that they can tap into to identify needs and rally volunteers. World Renew plans to equip these churches to reach out as deacons to meet the needs in their surrounding communities.”
In its first distributions, these churches will set up soup kitchens and provide prepared meals to earthquake survivors.
