Immediately after the earthquake struck, Salesian missionaries living and working in the area responded immediately helping to dig through rubble to look for trapped survivors and provide assistance to those affected. Salesian programs across the country have been working to collect emergency aid and coordinate volunteer efforts. At the end of April, Salesian missionaries put a plan into place to assist more than 42,000 affected by the earthquake.

In addition, 560 schools and close to 10,000 buildings were either damaged or completely destroyed. UNICEF notes that in the areas of Manabi and Esmeraldas 280 schools were destroyed leaving 88,000 children without an education.

More than 1,200 students at the Salesian-run San Jose Salesian Educational Center in Manta resumed their classes on June 13. The earthquake damaged part of the school building and the gym but the rest remains operational. Construction is still ongoing. On the first day back, Salesian missionaries focused their work on psycho-emotional activities helping both children and their families process the trauma from the earthquake and everything they had been through while working to prepare them for school educational activities. To accomplish this task, Salesian missionaries utilized the services of psychologists from the local Salesian University.

Salesian missionaries have also provided more than 800 food kits, which will feed families for 8-10 days. These food rations are delivered every 10 days by Salesian volunteers. Salesian missionaries also operate a medical clinic, which was very busy in the initial days after the earthquake seeing up to 200 patients. While the number of patients has slowed, mothers still access the clinic with their children seeking both physical exams and psychological assistance. Two Salesian doctors and two nurses were sent to help the most affected communities in the wake of the earthquake and now staff the clinic. Many of the children need the extra support processing the trauma following the quake as well as adjusting to living in temporary shelter while construction continues.

In order to ensure effective coordination and delivery of emergency aid, Salesians missionaries are collaborating with Ecuador’s governmental and non-governmental bodies active in the areas damaged by the earthquake. Salesian missionaries have already coordinated several shipments of materials that were delivered from other Salesian programs within the Manabi Province and

“Hundreds of youth and adults within Salesian programs have organized campaigns to collect basic necessities such as water and non-perishable foods,” says Father Maffeo Panteghini, provincial economer who went to Manta to assess the damage. “We have already helped more than 7,000 families with food, shelter and medicine and plan to assist even more.”

Headquartered in New Rochelle, New York, Salesian Missions has launched a Disaster in Ecuador fund to help the victims of the earthquake. To raise money for the fund, the Catholic nonprofit aid organization has launched an emergency fundraising campaign and is issuing an urgent appeal for donations. Go to salesianmissions.org/ecuador.

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Sources:

(PHOTO: ANS)

ANS – Ecuador – The Earthquake does not stop Education: Children and Youth return to the Salesian School

UN News Center – One hundred babies born every day in areas worst hit by Ecuador quake – UNICEF

The post ECUADOR: Students Back to School after Earthquake as Missionaries Continue Medical, Food Aid first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Ecuador’s government has declared a state of emergency and has deployed army troops, firefighters and heavy equipment to search for those that remain missing. Many highways, air traffic control and other buildings along the coast have collapsed. In Manta, Salesian missionaries operate a school, a parish, an oratory and a center for street children and are reporting that entire families are homeless and totally unprotected. There is a shortage of food and water and people forced to live on the streets without basic services are suffering, especially children and the elderly.

After the earthquake struck, missionaries in Ecuador responded immediately helping to dig through rubble to look for trapped survivors and providing assistance to those affected. Salesian programs across the country have been working to collect emergency aid and coordinate volunteer efforts.

In order to ensure effective coordination and delivery of emergency aid, Salesians missionaries are collaborating with Ecuador’s governmental and non-governmental bodies active in the areas damaged by the earthquake. Salesian missionaries have already coordinated several shipments of materials that were delivered from other Salesian programs within the Manabi Province and two Salesian doctors and two nurses were sent to help the most affected communities.

“Hundreds of youth and adults within Salesian programs have organized campaigns to collect basic necessities such as water and non-perishable foods and we have already helped more than 7,000 families with food, shelter and medicine,” says Father Maffeo Panteghini, provincial economer who went to Manta to assess the damage. “Salesian missionaries are continuing to assist those most in need and making a long-term plan to help more than 42,000 with basic needs and long-term rebuilding.”

While responding to those in need, Salesian missionaries are also working to address the damage sustained to several of their buildings during the earthquake. Father Jorge Molina, provincial in Ecuador, has formed a support team to address this crisis. Damage to the school, the parish and a retreat house, as well as many of the buildings in the surrounding community, is quite extensive.

“There are 1,800 students attending the Salesian College of San Jose and many have been left homeless,” says Marcelo Mejia, delegate for social communication of the province of Ecuador. “Many of our students live in the area near the school where the damage is irreparable. There have been many stories we have heard of great sorrow our students are going through for the loss of loved ones.”

For now, the church, retreat house and school are closed. However, community members continue to seek assistance and shelter from the missionaries who are responding with aid as best they can. In the coming weeks and months, missionaries will work to assess damage and put a plan into place for responding to aid requests and rebuilding needs.

Headquartered in New Rochelle, New York, Salesian Missions has launched a Disaster in Ecuador fund to help the victims of the earthquake. To raise money for the fund, the Catholic nonprofit aid organization has launched an emergency fundraising campaign and is issuing an urgent appeal for donations. Go to http://www.salesianmissions.org/ecuador.

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Sources:

Ecuador – Father Molina: “I am concerned for my brothers and those who suffer”

Ecuador – 250 thousand children affected by the earthquake. The Salesians are at work

The post ECUADOR: Salesian Missionaries Create Action Plan to Assist More Than 42,000 Affected by Earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.