Attachments
Operational context
UNHCR opened the Esmeraldas Field Office in 2008, covering Esmeraldas Province, and Pedernales in Manabí province. Esmeraldas is an economic hub for exports of shrimp, bananas, palm oil and oil refinery. Despite the importance to the national economy, almost 48% of the population live in poverty, and public infrastructure and services are limited. The province is also extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change and natural disasters including earthquakes, floods, and has the highest rates of dengue and chikungunya in the country. From 2022-2023, insecurity has increased significantly, bringing many new protection risks and operational challenges, for example, dynamics of inter-neighborhood, inter-cantonal and inter-provincial displacement due to direct threats from organized criminal groups and extortion. In addition, the recruitment and use of children and adolescents and school dropouts heighten protection risks for young men and women.
Esmeraldas is a diverse province; with 53% of the population identifying as Afro-Ecuadorian, and large communities of Awa, Chachi, and Epera indigenous groups. The rich diversity of the community, and the geographic location bordering Nariño - Colombia, has resulted in Esmeraldas being an attractive place for local integration of Colombian refugees, and since 2017 to Venezuelans. While many Colombians fleeing from Nariño, Valle de Cauca, and Cauca, have extended family ties and social networks in Esmeraldas, in contrast, Venezuelans are drawn to the province for its culture, climate and economic opportunities. UNHCR continues to work on improving reception conditions, access to humanitarian assistance, local integration, as well as strengthening community protection networks and the capabilities of local authorities, and developing initiatives to mitigate climate change risks, in the context of a fluid and challenging security environment.