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Ecuador: UN agency to feed 5,000 families who fled floods

Ecuador: UN agency to feed 5,000 families who fled floods

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has made plans with the Ecuadorian Government to provide food for some 5,000 families forced to flee their homes after torrential rains caused renewed flooding along the country’s coast.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has made plans with the Ecuadorian Government to provide food for some 5,000 families forced to flee their homes after torrential rains caused renewed flooding along the country’s coast.

The WFP-distributed ration packs, which include two bags of rice, one bag of lentils, oil, sugar and tuna, are intended to last a family of five for fifteen days.

Following two months of downpours, weekend rains drove thousands of families from their homes in the provinces of Manabí, Los Ríos, El Oro y Guaya into temporary shelters, according to WFP.

Up to 25,000 people are facing food and water shortages, with one of the greatest concerns being public health, WPF says, warning that stagnant waters could lead to outbreaks of respiratory disease and tropical disease such as dengue fever.

On Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced plans for emergency relief focusing on food, drinking water, medicines and sanitation supplies as well as assistance for the repair and reconstruction of homes.

UN recovery efforts are led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), while OCHA has channelled $80,000 to the relief effort.

The current flooding in Ecuador is hitting areas that already suffered from floods in 2005, and the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology expects heavy rains to continue until April.