Day 4
After spending the night in Bahía de Caráquez, the team took off to Canoa. They found this town in shambles with improvised shelters set up everywhere. In one of these shelters they found an Israeli organization that had built a water treatment plant since there is no electricity or water in most parts of Manabí. Many of these shelters were being organized by private organizations, but the military wanted to be in complete control of these.
Francisco saw Rafael Correa, Ecuador’s president, and quickly ran up to him to let him know about our organization and implored him to let them help on their own means. “Yes, this nation is very grateful for the work you guys have done. Keep doing your job, the military will be of no interference to your team” assured Correa.
After spending part of the morning in Canoa, they traveled to Jama. They found this town to be even in a worse state than Canoa. The town’s population doesn’t have many places to sleep, so they have set up a few shelters for the women and children to sleep in, but the men don’t have anywhere to go.
The team quickly began setting up a few shelters so that everybody in Jama could have a place to sleep. “We gave shelter to at least 150 people today” said Francisco. While helping setting up shelter, the team ran into a familiar face, it was president Rafael Correa again. This time, Dr. Fuller talked to him and the president made it clear that the team had his support and put them in contact with some other people from the government so that they could have evrything to work.
They spent the rest of the day there, building more shelters, attending the injured, and feeding the homeless. They are planning to return here tomorrow with more medical help since they are in need of a lot of attention. Dr. Fuller said that “we are planning to treat close to 200 victims tomorrow.”
After helping the people of Jama, they will go to a town nearby which has not recieved any kind of help. The team is working tirelessly from dusk til dawn, but they still need our help. Please don’t forget to donate to this cause by clicking here.
