Ecuador has
been seriously affected by the El Niño phenomenon and
faces a multitude of natural disasters, including flooding,
droughts, landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Billions
of dollars in annual losses are inflicted nationwide in the
productive, farming, industrial, housing, and infrastructure
sectors. The effects of natural hazards or disasters can be
reduced through the application of risk-reduction measures built
into planning processes, where local institutions and communities
are the principle actors.
