KEY MESSAGES
In recent years, the context in Ecuador has undergone significant changes. Rising levels of insecurity and violence have increased people's exposure to humanitarian and protection needs, adversely affecting the access of the most vulnerable communities to basic goods and services.
Various limitations in humanitarian access have been identified, primarily restrictions or interferences with humanitarian work and programme implementation stemming from territorial control disputes between *armed groups and/or law enforcement operations against them. The provinces most affected by these limitations are Guayas, Sucumbíos, Esmeralda and El Oro.
Children, adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable due to their high exposure to the risk of recruitment by armed groups, stigmatization and limited access to education and training opportunities. Likewise, people in situations of human mobility are equally vulnerable, especially to xenophobia and other abuses that negatively impact their rights and access to assistance.
Areas exposed to both natural threats and armed violence are of particular concern. In the event of a major disaster, the physical environment may be disrupted by landslides and frequent road interruptions, as well as security restrictions, which impede humanitarian action, hinder the provision of assistance, and limit access and mobility for the affected population and/or responding organizations.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.