UNASUR Praises Ecuador's Response to Earthquake

A group of experts in risk management visiting Ecuador praised the response by the country's government to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on April 16.

The experts visited the country on behalf of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in order to evaluate the international response and the domestic application of the “Cooperation Manual for Mutual Assistance in Disasters” that was created by the regional body precisely for events like the earthquake.

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“There is very good organization in every one of the shelters and refuges, we have been able to see that in each one of these places work is coordinated. The Secretariat for Risk Management is not the only one involved, instead other government organizations also intervene, such as the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Health, amongst others,” said Mariano Goicoechea, an Argentine who serves as first vice-president of the international humanitarian assistance body in his home country.

William Martinez, Venezuela's vice-minister for risk management, agreed with his Argentine colleague, saying was utilizing the response manual correctly and adequately.

Despite the fast response by the state, the government of President Rafael Correa has been the subject of criticism in international media outlets.

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The investigation and evaluation carried out by the group of experts will also serve to made recommendations for improvements to UNASUR's disaster manual.

The outpouring of international support, principally from Ecuador's neighbors, helped mitigate the worst effects of the disaster. Rescue workers, both domestic and international, saved 113 people from the debris in the days following the earthquake that left at least 660 dead.

In a meeting of UNASUR foreign ministers shortly after the earthquake, Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said Ecuador was grateful for the existence of UNASUR because in these times of dire need, "the solidarity has proven that absolute integration is not just a dream."