Debris and rubble filled the streets of Manabí Province’s Manta city following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of northwestern Ecuador in April 2016.

AFP/Luis Acosta

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a team of disaster experts to respond to humanitarian needs in Ecuador stemming from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on April 16 in the northern part of the country, killing approximately 400 people and injuring more than 2,600 others. These numbers are expected to increase as new information becomes available.

The USAID disaster team will assist the Government of Ecuador by assessing earthquake damage, identifying priority humanitarian needs, and providing information and analysis of the situation on the ground. A separate support team-- also deployed by USAID-- will work with the UN's Disaster Assessment and Coordination team, which is helping Ecuador coordinate international rescue activities.

USAID is also providing an initial $100,000 for critical supplies to help communities affected by the earthquake. More assistance may be forthcoming based on disaster assessments.

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