CANOA UPDATE

It's now more than a week since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador. 

Communication to Canoa has been improving over the last few days and it seems like cleaning up is underway. Many private organizations and people are bringing important supplies like food, water and mattresses to Canoa. But a lot of help is still needed

Luckily nobody in our family was injured. Carlos' parents house was damaged so badly that it needs to be demolished. It was possible to get some stuff out of the house although it probably was very risky to get in the house. ( Carlos' sister described the house as "moving like jello") 

There still have been many aftershocks, some of them as strong as magnitude 6.1. It must be emotionally very difficult if the earth shakes multiple times a day, especially after an traumatic experience like a 7.8 earthquake. 

Thanks to the donations of my very generous colleagues, friends and friend of friends, we were able to send some supplies to Carlos family and friends in Canoa. Leo (Carlos' brother) left for Ecuador yesterday and thanks to #TAME he could take five large bags with supplies to Canoa free of charge.

What we bought now from the donations are:

12 - 6oz bottles insect repellent

Hand sanitizer

2 boxes Crayons (for Carlos nieces)

Batteries

Pain killers

An emergency generator 

 5 water filter

My colleagues donated:

• 3 mosquito nets,
• 5 insect repellent bracelets,
• 1 flashlight+radio
• 2 emergency tents
• 30 water purifying tablets
• 2 headbands flashlights
• 12 Fire sticks

Due to the generous donations, there are sufficient funds to buy more supplies that Carlos can take to Ecuador in a few weeks.

We will also be able to buy construction supplies to first build a shelter for the immediate situation and later to help build a new house. 

 

Carlos' family is currently living a few miles inland from Canoa at a property that we bought a few years ago. They only have a small plastic cover and mattresses that they could get out of the house.

This is how people live in Canoa at the moment





Demolishing of damaged houses started

the beach

The street in front of Carlos' parents house



Road near Canoa