Ecuador, Japan earthquake news: Nonprofit organizations, churches, aid ongoing operations as aftershocks continue

Amirhesa Abapo Saturday, April 23, 2016

As death toll rises from the series of earthquakes that hit both countries, Ecuador and Japan are receiving continuous help from both local and global nonprofit organizations. Church leaders are also offering and calling for unified prayers following the tragic calamities.

The aftermath of the tremors, reaching magnitude-7.8 in Ecuador and magnitude-7.0 in Japan, has seen terrors still coming due to authorities' warnings of aftershocks.

At Saint Peter's Square last Sunday, Pope Francis, the well-loved pontiff, asked the faithful to pray for the suffering ones in Ecuador and Japan. "May the help of God and of neighbors give them strength and support," the Pope said, according to The Associated Press.

A woman receives donations from volunteers in Manta, after an earthquake struck off Ecuador's Pacific coast, April 21, 2016. | Reuters/Henry Romero

The Episcopal Relief and Development is also supporting church partners in both Ecuador and Japan to cope with the situation, according to Episcopal News Service. Aside from pastoral care, providing temporary shelters and emergency supplies like water and food to affected communities is being done. Recipients of the said relief operations include affected areas in San Esteban and San Jose in Mexico. Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK), Japan's Anglican Episcopal Church, was also given support as rescue operations continued.

Giving Children Hope, a Buena Park nonprofit organization in Orange County, California is also reaching out to local contacts in Ecuador and outlining help with donations generated through its website. Two Orange County churches, Cypress Church and Calvary Chapel, are in the process of providing aid to Ecuador and Japan, awaiting word from missionaries on what to send.

"Orange County is stepping up to the plate," Carly Visbal, spokesperson of Giving Children Hope told the Orange County Register. "We just pray and hope people rally behind the cause," Visbal added.

Operation Blessing International, a nonprofit organization of Pat Robertson, is also sending help. It operates headquarters in Sendai, Japan â€” just nine hours away from Kumamoto â€” and in Mexico City, approximately 1,800 miles away from Esmeraldas, Ecuador.