Attachments
SITUATION OVERVIEW
• Ecuador continues to face severe security, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges. Violence driven by drug-related crime has escalated sharply, making Ecuador one of the most insecure countries in the region. Poverty and extreme poverty remain high, with 21.4 percent and 8.3 percent. The country is experiencing a complex migration dynamic, marked by a continued influx of migrants and increased emigration due to deteriorating security conditions.
• Environmental pressures, including prolonged droughts, declining hydrological reserves, and impacts on electricity generation—have further strained livelihoods. Government austerity measures (removal of fuel subsidies, VAT increases) aim to manage fiscal pressures but have triggered social tensions, including nationwide protests in 2025.
• Food insecurity remains a significant concern. Updated IPC analysis (2025) projected 2.6 million people facing acute food insecurity, especially agricultural households with limited access to water and sanitation. Undernourishment is at 12.1 percent, and 17.7 percent of children under five are stunted, with disproportionate impacts on women, Indigenous communities, rural populations, and migrants.
• WFP continues to support the response through assistance to migrants, expansion of Home-Grown School Feeding, and emergency support for climate-affected populations, while strengthening partnerships amid limited funding available to upper-middle-income countries like Ecuador.