Attachments
Highlights
- On 13th March 2025, a major oil spill occurred in Esmeraldas province due to a rupture in a crude oil pipeline, affecting over 15 parishes.
- The oil spill outpoured into several rivers, eventually flowing into the ocean, contaminating water sources and severely impacting the environment.
- It is estimated that over 113,000 people (57,000 women, and 44,000 children and adolescents) are affected by the loss of livelihoods and income, as well as the limited access to potable water.
- Children and pregnant women at higher risk of gastrointestinal diseases.
- The Government is managing the response at all levels, and has implemented rapid response measures, providing affected families with cash vouchers.
- Following official request by the Government, on March 25th, a mission led by Joint Environment Unit (JEU), including UNICEF, conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment, reaching 17 parishes.
- Critical needs identified are water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), food security, health, child protection and livelihoods.
Situation in numbers:
113,000 people in need
57,000 women
44,000 children and adolescents
3 potable water systems partially restored
1 potable water system suspended
1 school adapted as temporary shelter
23 families in need of shelter
3,471 people received medical attention
Situation overview and humanitarian needs
On Thursday 13th March, a major oil spill (25,116 barrels of oil) occurred in Esmeraldas province due to a rupture in a pipeline of the Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline System (SOTE). The oil spill initiated approximately 86 Km inland, contaminating several rivers and water sources, eventually outpouring into the ocean. The impacts to the environment and natural reserves are vast and over 15 parishes are directly affected.
Petroecuador Public Enterprise, in charge of SOTE management and operations, activated a Contingency Plan, installing retaining walls and barriers to content the oil spill, however, it outpoured into the Esmeraldas River and eventually into the Pacific Ocean. Currently, there are specialised teams deployed in the affected areas to remove the crude oil spilled into the water and land. On 26th March, a retaining wall collapsed triggering state of disaster declaration at provincial level, due to environmental contamination.
Following this scenario, the Government officially requested the UN Resident Coordinator the activation of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) to support the response efforts and provide immediate assistance.
Upon the activation of the HCT, on 29th March, a mission led by JEU and UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and in coordination with UN Agencies, and other international and local organisations, such as UNICEF, Cáritas, World Vision, GIZ, UNHCR, Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio (FEPP), HIAS, RET, ADRA, UNPD, and OCHA, conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) in 17 affected parishes, reaching 28 rural communities and 9 urban communities. Critical humanitarian needs identified and most affecting the population are WASH, food security (access and availability), health (including mental health) Child protection, and livelihoods. Official results from the surveys conducted are being consolidated.
The Humanitarian Community estimates that over 113,000 people are directly affected, out of them approximately 57,000 are women, and 44,000 children and adolescents, by the loss of livelihoods and income, and the limited access to or lack of safe drinking water, with critical consequences on public health. 23 families – 48 persons in total – need shelter, and 1 school has been adopted as temporary shelter. The Government has already provided 2,400 cash vouchers to the most affected families.
Internal displacement within the province has been identified due to the oil spill, 31% of participants in the surveys reported that they had to flee their homes, mainly in Rioverde canton, and look for refugee with close family and acquaintances. In Esmeraldas province, poverty rates are high accounting for 56% of total population, while in Rioverde is particularly aggravated with 91% of people live in poverty conditions.
Safe drinking water continues to be distributed by tanker trucks to the affected communities. 4 cantons remain in state of emergency with provincial and local Emergency Operations Committees (COE) activated to aid with the implementation of water distribution plan with the support of the Ecuadorian Red Cross, while the Empresa Pública de Agua y Saneamiento Ambiental (EPMAPSE) continues restoring the potable water system in affected areas. Currently, 3 cantons (Esmeraldas, Rioverde, and Atacames) remain with the potable water system partially restored, whereas Cube parish, in Quinindé canton, has no access to potable water since the system remain suspended. Despite these efforts, major gaps remain in water quality and service coverage, particularly in remote or peri-urban communities, and there are growing concerns about water safety.
Over 3,500 people already need medical attention related to the oil spill, with figures rising. Reported symptoms linked to exposure to crude oil and hydrocarbons include dermatitis, dyspepsia, headaches, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, and psychological distress. There is also a reported increase in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, particularly among children, pregnant women, and elderly people. Given the ongoing contamination of rivers and water supply systems, the risk of outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, is considered very high. As of mid-March, the Ministry of Health confirmed over 9,566 cases of dengue across the country, and 530 in Esmeraldas. Furthermore, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is also critical to the most affected populations, including children and adolescents.
It is important to note that most affected communities are located along the coast or riverbanks, where their traditional diet and daily protein intake primarily consist of fish and seafood. However, due to oil spills contaminating rivers and oceans, these sources of protein have become unsafe for consumption. Consequently, a decrease in protein intake is likely, leading to public health concerns and nutritional impacts, particularly affecting children under five, pregnant women, and the elderly.
There is over 312 Ha of agricultural land affected, including 61 Ha completely lost; 9 beaches are contaminated, 3 of them remain closed due to heavy crude oil contamination. Over 4,500 people dedicated to fishing, both in rivers and ocean, are directly affected by the loss of income and livelihood. The lost and disruption of livelihoods, especially in fishing and agriculture sectors, jeopardise social and economic stability.
The oil spill exacerbates an ongoing emergency caused by an intense and prolonged rainy season with severe flooding and landslides in Esmeraldas and other provinces of the coast, reaching over 125,000 people in need since January. This current situation is further aggravated by the security challenges in the province since it is one of the most affected by the ongoing armed violence crisis in the country.