As we reported last week, the San Juan de Dios Shelter in Quito is involved in receiving and distributing aid in the area affected by the earthquake in Ecuador, which left nearly 650 dead and 130 missing, in addition to 12,400 injured and 26,000 people sleeping in shelters, with some 7,000 homes destroyed, according to official data.
This is the current situation reported to us by the SJD Shelter in Quito, after speaking with Esteban CĂĄrdenas, its manager.
What relief work is the shelter providing, and how is it developing?
The San Juan de Dios Shelter was one of the first institutions to donate an entire truckload of its own resources: rice, dry grains, canned goods, water, blankets, and other items. It will continue to do so based on current capabilities.
The desire to help and fully commit is latent, and that is why we appeal to the sensitivity of our brothers and sisters in neighboring countries to collaborate and partially mitigate this disaster, giving us a hand and thus channeling the support we receive to more efficiently reach the affected areas.
How are you organizing all the logistics and who is involved?
A group of 35 collaborators from the San Juan de Dios Shelter in Quito, along with eight brothers from the San Juan de Dios Community, are participating in various ways, such as collecting donations, sorting and storing donations, preparing shipments, and so on.
What's the current situation in Ecuador? How many people need help?
It's important to collaborate with Ecuador because this widespread devastation, with many families dead, hundreds of children walking alone in the streets, disoriented, and people who no longer have a home and have seen their years of efforts crumble in seconds, leaves us experiencing a desolate landscape today.
Our country has suffered significant economic hardship as a result of low oil prices. However, its people have done their best to help in the face of this disaster, giving whatever they have. Every citizen, regardless of their situation, has donated their efforts to help the victims, and yet this is not enough. We are a small country, but we are big on solidarity, but we still need the hands of all our sister nations to lift us up.
The total number of people affected is still uncertain, but we can say with certainty that the affected area is destroyed in 85%.
In addition to helping the victims, we continue to provide assistance to the shelter's vulnerable population, who cannot afford to go untreated.
If you would like to help us support earthquake victims, please make a donation by selecting "Ayuda Ecuador":
IBAN ES63 0049 6096 4225 1013 7261
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