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Ecuador receives international
aid for volcano victims
Several countries and
international organizations have
provided assistance to the
thousands of people affected by
the Tungurahua volcano eruption
in Ecuador.
Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry said
in a Friday statement that
Japan, Spain, Switzerland,
China, Britain, Bolivia, Peru
and the United States have
jointly provided 1.4 million
U.S. dollars for the volcano
victims.
International organizations such
as the United Nations and the
Inter-American Development Bank
have provided humanitarian aid.
The 5,020-meter-high Tungurahua,
located in Ecuador's central
area and 180 km south of the
capital Quito, erupted on Aug.
16, leaving at least four people
dead and two others missing.
The volcanic eruption also
damaged crops, killed animals,
blocked roads and forced
thousands of people to be
evacuated from their homes.
The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry
said the humanitarian aid
received included masks, field
hospitals, family tents,
medicine, plastic tanks,
mattresses, nonperishable food,
water purifiers, jute bags and
blankets.
The volcano last erupted in 1999
and then underwent a period of
relative calmness.
Its most recent lava-throwing
period began in mid-July, which
eventually forced the evacuation
of thousands of people from
nearby areas.
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