KEY MESSAGES
1. The province of Guayas faces significant challenges due to structural violence in certain areas where state has had a limited limited for years. Armed groups¹ have assumed control of these territories, creating an environment of insecurity that affects the population and restricts access to essential services such as health, gender-based violence support, justice, safe reporting mechanisms and child protection. While official data is lacking, new phenomena such as internal displacement are becoming evident.
2. The main constraints to humanitarian access in Guayas include hostilities between armed groups, including the use of explosives, which have led to the suspension of activities. Changes in leadership within these groups result in intermittent access to affected areas, while threats against humanitarian staff and facilities have forced some partners to withdraw. Additionally, armed groups impose restrictions, such as curfews and limitations on recruitment prevention efforts and peace promotion activities. The most affected cantons are Guayaquil and Durán.
3. Communities in territories controlled by armed groups face mobility restrictions due to fear of violence, recruitment and ‘invisible borders’, limiting access to basic services.
4. The ongoing energy crisis in Ecuador worsens the perception of insecurity (streets are often dark) and further restricts humanitarian access. In Guayas, there are power outages of up to 16 hours a day, forcing the rescheduling of activities and limiting the delivery of some services.
5. Girls, boys, adolescents and women are particularly vulnerability due to their high exposure to the risk of recruitment by armed groups, as well as to stigmatization, 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 armed violence and natural hazards are of particular concern. During the rainy season, landslides can affect the physical environment and cause frequent road disruptions. These conditions negatively impact humanitarian operations, hinder the delivery of assistance and limit access and mobility for both affected populations and organizations responding to emergencies.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.