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Ecuador

Ecuador: Humanitarian Access - El Oro Province (November 2024)

Attachments

KEY MESSAGES

1. The province of El Oro is facing a situation of generalized violence, marked by the constant movement of armed groups¹ into new areas of the region. This volatile environment, characterized by territorial control disputes, creates intermittent access for humanitarian actors in the communities they serve. Particularly concerning border dynamics, there have been reports of human trafficking and smuggling, sexual violence and the separation of minors from their families, perpetrated by armed groups that fully control the informal crossings and routes along the border.

The low level of awareness and political will among institutionals to recognise the humanitarian and protection impacts of the violence restricts the population's access to essential basic services, already weakened by the absence of the state, such as healthcare, gender-based violence care, justice, safe reporting mechanisms and child protection. In this context, humanitarian protection actors face challenges in establishing agreements with institutions, hindering the development of public policies and protection measures. While official data is lacking, new phenomena such as internal displacement are becoming evident.

2. The main constraints to humanitarian access include hostilities between armed groups over territorial control, including the use of explosives, as well as operations between public security forces and armed groups that force humanitarians organizations to reschedule activities. There have also been reports of threats against humanitarian personnel and facilities, with surveillance and extortion by these groups. Additionally, armed groups interfere with the implementation of activities, restricting initiatives related to violence prevention and recruitment. The cantons most affected by these limitations are Huaquillas, Machala and El Guabo.

3. Populations in areas controlled by armed groups face additional restrictions, opting for self-imposed confinement due to fear of moving around and the risk of extortion. These areas are marked by ‘invisible borders’ and watch groups that monitor movements with hacked cameras and drones.

4. The ongoing energy crisis impacting all of Ecuador worsens the perception of insecurity (as the streets are often dark) and contributes to limiting humanitarian access. In El Oro, there are power outages of up to 16 hours a day, forcing the rescheduling of activities and limiting the provision of some services.

5. Girls, boys, adolescents and women are in a particularly vulnerable situation due to their high exposure to the risk of recruitment by armed groups, as well as stigmatization, the risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and limited access to education and training opportunities. People in situations of human mobility and LGBTQI+ groups also face high levels of vulnerability, exposed to xenophobia, discrimination and other abuses that severely compromise their rights and access to assistance.

6. Areas exposed to both natural hazards and armed violence are of particular concern. During the rainy season, the physical environment can be affected by landslides, frequent road disruptions and security restrictions. This negatively impacts humanitarian efforts, hinders the delivery of assistance and limits access and mobility for both the population and response organisations.

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