Ecuador opens aid centers for Colombia earthquake victims

Ecuador is mobilizing humanitarian aid for families impacted by a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday. The government announced Tuesday it will open two collection centers to receive donations for those affected.

The solidarity effort, coordinated by the National Risk Management Secretariat (SNGR), will operate from Wednesday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The designated collection points are located in Pichincha at the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE) and in Guayas at the Universidad de Guayaquil.

The SNGR has requested that donations be delivered only to these official sites to ensure proper organization and channeling. The list of accepted items primarily focuses on temporary shelter and personal hygiene needs. For shelter, contributions like single or 1½-bed sheets for warm climates, tarpaulins or mosquito nets, sleeping mats, five-person tents, pillows, and plastic buckets for water storage are requested.

Personal hygiene items such as bath soap, laundry soap, toothbrushes for adults and children, toothpaste, bath towels, and cream deodorant will also be accepted. The SNGR emphasized that all donated articles must be in good condition, and used, damaged, or incomplete items will not be received. Participants are also asked to classify and package their donations appropriately, labeling them correctly before delivery.