One year after the declaration of ‘internal armed conflict’ by the Ecuadorian President in the country, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) urges the government and the international community to recognize, and provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance to, all people who are being forced to flee their homes due to violence from organized criminal groups.
“While we fully acknowledge the efforts of the current Ecuadorian government to stop violence, internal displacement driven by organized criminal groups remains a fact. These displaced people urgently need support from both the government and the international community to rebuild their lives,” said Giovanni Rizzo, NRC’s country director in Ecuador.
Organized criminal groups are present in provinces Esmeraldas, Manabí, El Oro, and Guayas. Their presence leads to a climate of fear. Daily murders are reported, while extortion targets all kinds of businesses, forcing many to close. Children are at risk of recruitment into criminal groups, while women face intimidation and are at risk of sexual violence. Facing direct threats and violence, families have no other option than to abandon their homes.
New research shows that more than 80,000 were living in internal displacement as a result of violence in Ecuador by October 2024.
Internally displaced people are not fleeing by choice, they are forced to leave everything behind because they have no other option.
“The next day, after they fled, the criminals left explosives on their doorstep, they would have been killed,” a community leader told NRC, referring to a family that was extorted and displaced before the imminent threat on their lives.
“If you witness a crime, if your child is at risk of being recruited into an armed group at school, or if you’re being extorted, you may face a terrifying choice: stay and risk suffering and death or flee your home. These are just some of the reasons why people forced to flee their homes in Ecuador need access to violence, food, education, and opportunities to rebuild their lives,” said Rizzo.
To ensure an effective response to the needs of the displaced population, the Government and the international community must work together to ensure a proper and timely response to all the victims of violence.
“If the displaced population remains invisible and unsupported there will be no improvement to the current crisis in Ecuador,” added Rizzo.
