Portoviejo, Ecuador, Mar 15, 2017 / 11:50 am
Almost one year has passed since a devastating earthquake struck Ecuador on April 16, 2016: more than 660 died and many thousands lost their homes and livelihoods.
Grave suffering persists, as countless people remain homeless or have been living in bamboo huts and pre-fabricated containers that were only supposed be a very temporary solution.
"About 1,500 to 2,000 people are suffering from these circumstances," said Father Walter Coronel, who oversees the rebuilding projects for the Archdiocese of Portoviejo, which was hard hit.
"Most of them live in very poor rural areas, where conditions were already difficult before the earthquake. Now things are even worse. It is absolutely impossible for them to manage without outside help," the priest told international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.