UNHCR ramps up response as Ecuador declares emergency

On August 8th, in response to the massive influx of Venezuelans arriving to the country, the Government of Ecuador declared a state of emergency in human mobility in the provinces of Carchi, Pichincha and El Oro. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, welcomes and supports this decision, which allows Ecuador to assign additional resources and step up its response and reaffirms Ecuador’s long tradition of welcoming refugees and other persons on the move.

The exodus of Venezuelans from their country is one of Latin America’s largest mass population movements in history.

Since the beginning of the year, some 547,000 Venezuelans have entered Ecuador through the Colombian border at a daily average of between 2,700 and 3,000 men, women and children. However, the influx is now accelerating and, in the first week of August, some 30,000 Venezuelans entered the country (more than 4,000 per day).

With the declaration of emergency, Ecuador is already assigning resources and stepping up its response to this dramatic increase in arrivals of Venezuelans.

The majority of the Venezuelans entering Ecuador continue onwards to Peru and Chile. Up to 20 percent, however, remain in the country, some 7,000 of whom have sought asylum since 2016. The government-run asylum system is feeling the pressure. Ecuador has also provided other forms of legal stay to tens of thousands of Venezuelans.

UNHCR is stepping up its response to establish a contingency plan and the necessary actions for humanitarian assistance. Under the leadership of the Ecuadorian Government, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and in close cooperation with the UN country team and NGO partners, UNHCR will continue to respond to the immediate protection and assistance needs of the Venezuelan influx.

UNHCR has strengthened its presence at the key border crossings in the north, and is planning to do so in the south of the country; it is stepping up its overall emergency and operational response capacities; providing technical assistance and supporting the Government in shoring up its refugee status determination, registration and other protection delivery mechanisms; working to identify vulnerable Venezuelans for protection and assistance referral; and ensuring that asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants have consistent protection and other vital information.

Original source: UNHCR
Published on 10 August 2018