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Recent news from southern Manabí indicates the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry in the canton of Puerto López to be estimated at US$6 million. This is a tremendous amount given the small population of the region and the number of people who rely on tourism to make a living. Moreover, the current pandemic halted the primary industry of fishing. While things are starting to change course, with tourism opening up and fishing resuming, there is still a pressing need to support individuals most affected by the economic shutdown associated with COVID-19.

The mission of REDI is to help those in need. We do this in a variety of ways, and since April we have been distributing food to individuals and families in need. This will continue into the upcoming months as we strive to provide a little bit of relief and hope during this difficult time.

Our objective is simple. Help those in need. Our work has increased in response to COVID-19. Since April we have been providing food to families in need. Our most recent distribution was on July 7. Fifty families benefited from our support.

REDI donations of food to families in need continued today with 50 households receiving support. The health impacts of COVID-19 have been minimal in southern Manabí province, but the economic impact is significant. We will continue to work to help those in need as they struggle through this difficult time.

We are continuing to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in coastal Ecuador. As weeks go by, the economic impact on rural villages increases. Families that rely on fishing and tourism to make a living no longer have an income. The stresses on the household are real as people struggle to put food on the table. We are working to alleviate some of the stress by providing food and necessary household items to the most vulnerable. 

We have completed our second round of food donations. The first was April 16 and the most recent May 6. We increased our support from 40 families to 50 families as well as increasing the amount provided to each family.  We are under no illusions that this is going to end shortly. This is a long-term initiative that we expect to last well into the upcoming months.

With your support we can continue to provide to families in need. Donations are tax-deductible and all funds go directly to supporting residents of rural Ecuador. Donations can be made on our “Contributions” page and will be processed through PayPal. Thank you for your support. We wish you health and happiness in this difficult time.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Ecuador more so than other South American country. The small nation of approximately 17 million residents has been most affected in the coastal city of Guayaquil. News coming out of Ecuador points to overstretched resources as resulting in a situation where the deceased are being left on the sidewalks outside of homes for days, and where a local packaging manufacture has moved production from boxes for exports like shrimp to bananas to producing cardboard coffins. The situation in Guayaquil is critical.

Cases of COVID-19 in Manabi province (a few hours up the coast from Guayaquil) are fewer, but the economic impact of the virus has been significant. Coastal Manabi is home to numerous small communities that rely on fishing and tourism and where most residents live day to day based on the income from these activities. Both have come to a halt.

REDI has responded in various ways. We are working closely with our local collaborators to provide food for families and individuals in need. While what we can provide is small, every bit helps. Most recently, we provided food to over 40 families. This will continue in the upcoming weeks and months as we identify individuals and families with the greatest need. We are also working to provide economic support for the household economy while simultaneously providing much needed masks to individuals. We are contracting local women to sew masks that will be donated to community residents. This provides a small amount of income to families while also getting masks out to those in need.

REDI needs your support at this time more than ever. You can donate via the link on our donations page. All donations are tax-deductible and 100 percent of funds will go to providing relief to rural residents in coastal Ecuador.