Ecuador: reconstruction project begins following 2016 earthquake

In April 2016, an earthquake of 7.8 on the Richter scale hit the coastal area of Ecuador, located less than 200 kilometers from the capital Quito, causing - according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - 700 deaths, 12,000 injured, 50 thousand homeless.

After aid for the first emergencies, the Holy See started a project for the reconstruction of houses, schools and public buildings in the province of Manabi, the epicenter of the earthquake.

In fact, governments’ data shows that the destroyed or damaged buildings exceed 2,000 units, over 600 of these are schools, while in many cities water, sewage and electricity networks have to be rebuilt.

The material damages amount to over 3 billion dollars.