Ecuador | Volcanic Ash: Early Action Protocol Annual Report (EAP2023EC03| MDREC024)

This report covers the second year of implementation (January–December 2025) of Ecuador's Early Action Protocol for Volcanic Ash, led by the Ecuadorian Red Cross with CHF 460,521 in IFRC DREF funding. The protocol is designed to reduce the impact of volcanic ashfall through anticipatory actions spanning preparedness, supply prepositioning, community awareness and institutional strengthening across provinces at risk from six priority volcanoes, including Tungurahua, Cotopaxi and Guagua Pichincha.

The ERC made tangible progress in Year 2, prepositioning 10,000 KN95 masks, 3,500 protective goggles and 6,000 swimming goggles for children, alongside the replenishment of 4,170 jerrycans, 2,000 tarpaulins and 1,540 tool kits drawn down during concurrent flood and oil spill responses. Community awareness materials were updated with the Geophysical Institute (IGEPN), and the protocol was rolled out across provincial branches, volunteers and national headquarters. Cumulative expenditure stood at CHF 234,282, equal to 51% of the total budget. However, several preparedness activities were pushed to early 2026 due to social unrest and overlapping emergencies, and a sharp foreign exchange overrun — CHF 11,841 against a CHF 375 allocation — will require a formal budget revision in Year 3.