WASHINGTON — The Embassy for Ecuador in D.C. is making arrangements for local donations to be sent to victims of the deadly magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Saturday.
“You don’t want just to collect anything or everything,” Francisco Borja, Ecuador’s ambassador to the United States, told WTOP. “We want to collect [items] specifically.”
Borja said he imagines medicine and tents will be needed, but he’ll know more later. A local church to be named later will receive donated goods here to be shipped to Ecuador.
“Probably [Monday] officials in Ecuador will finish the evaluation and can tell us exactly what we have to collect here. But, money always is good,” Borja said.
For cash donations, UNICEF and the American Red Cross are among organizations endorsed by Janina Smith, the Counselor at the Consulate of Ecuador.
The government of Ecuador has established bank accounts to receive donations.
Bank of America NY
SWIFT code: BOFAUS3N
Account name: “RISK MANAGEMENT CCU SECRETARY / CENTRAL PLANT”
No. current account: 01121807
Bank of America NY
Account Name: UNDP Rep Of Ecuador Account
No. Account: 3751560139
Bank ID: 111000012
Bank Type: ZBA Bank
Bank of America — USA
Account #: 3751560139
Account name: UNDP REPRESENTATIVE IN ECUADOR
Swift code: BOFAUS3N
ACH routing number: 111000012
“For our compatriots in the United States who want information, it will be published on social networks through the twitter account @EmbajadaEcuUsa,” the website for the Embassy of Ecuador in Washington, D.C. said.
To help people in the United States communicate with loved ones in Ecuador, AT&T says it will waive or credit landline, texting, and mobility (Postpaid and GoPhone) call charges from the U.S. to Ecuador through April 22, 2016.
Borja said the people of Ecuador are very grateful for the messages of condolence and offers of help from the people of the U.S. and the U.S. government. He says his country is managing the best it can.
“It is a great tragedy, but we are going to come out from that stronger,” Borja said pausing thoughtfully, before finally adding, “I hope so.”
