One year after the declaration of ‘internal armed conflict’ by the Ecuadorian President in the country, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) urges the government and the international community to recognise, and provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance to, all people who are being forced to flee their homes due to violence from organised criminal groups.
Ecuador: ongoing violence displacing thousands
“While we fully acknowledge the efforts of the current Ecuadorian government to stop violence, internal displacement driven by organised criminal groups remains a fact. These displaced people urgently need support from both the government and the international community to rebuild their lives,” said Giovanni Rizzo, NRC’s country director in Ecuador.
Today organised criminal groups are present in provinces Esmeraldas, Manabí, El Oro and Guayas. Their presence leads to a climate of fear. Daily murders are reported, while extortion targets all kind of businesses, forcing many to close. Children are at risk of recruitment into criminal groups, while women face intimidation and are in risk of sexual violence. Facing direct threats and violence, families have no other option than to abandon their homes and .
New research shows that more than 80,000 were living in internal displacement as a result of violence in Ecuador by October 2024.
Internally displaced people are not fleeing by choice, they are forced to leave everything behind because they have no other option. “The next day, after they fled, the criminals left explosives on their doorstep, they would have been killed," a community leader told NRC, referring to a family that was extorted and displaced prior to the imminent threat on their lives.
“If you witness a crime, if your child is at risk of being recruited into an armed group at school, or if you're being extorted, you may face a terrifying choice: stay and risk suffering and death or flee your home. These are just some of the reasons why people forced to flee their homes in Ecuador need access to from violence, food, education, and opportunities to rebuild their lives,” said Rizzo.
To ensure an effective response to the needs of the displaced population, it is vital that the Government and the international community work together to ensure a proper and timely response to all the victims of violence. “If the displaced population remains invisible and unsupported there will be no improvement to the current crisis in Ecuador,” added Rizzo.
Notes to editors:
- As a result of violence, the country’s homicide rate jumped to a record 47 per 100,000 residents in 2023, up from just 6 per 100,000 in 2018. Ecuador concluded 2024 with 6,818 homicides, marking an 18% decrease compared to the previous year (Insight Crime).
- According to 3iSolution more than 80,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Ecuador due to the ongoing violence.
- The recent escalation in violence across Ecuador has severely affected children’s access to school, particularly in the two target provinces. Students face multiple risks affecting their ability to attend school, specifically when transiting between home and school. These dangers include the risk of exposure to homicide, threats, recruitment, extortion in the form of forced payments, and GBV (ACAPS).
- For nearly two decades, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been assisting refugees and migrants in Ecuador. In 2024, NRC adapted its work to provide crucial support to internally displaced persons within the country.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- NRC Ecuador, Karen Davila: karen.davila@nrc.no, +593 98 146 6578
“While we fully acknowledge the efforts of the current Ecuadorian government to stop violence, internal displacement driven by organised criminal groups remains a fact. These displaced people urgently need support from both the government and the international community to rebuild their lives,” said Giovanni Rizzo, NRC’s country director in Ecuador.
Today organised criminal groups are present in provinces Esmeraldas, Manabí, El Oro and Guayas. Their presence leads to a climate of fear. Daily murders are reported, while extortion targets all kind of businesses, forcing many to close. Children are at risk of recruitment into criminal groups, while women face intimidation and are in risk of sexual violence. Facing direct threats and violence, families have no other option than to abandon their homes and .
New research shows that more than 80,000 were living in internal displacement as a result of violence in Ecuador by October 2024.
Internally displaced people are not fleeing by choice, they are forced to leave everything behind because they have no other option. “The next day, after they fled, the criminals left explosives on their doorstep, they would have been killed," a community leader told NRC, referring to a family that was extorted and displaced prior to the imminent threat on their lives.
“If you witness a crime, if your child is at risk of being recruited into an armed group at school, or if you're being extorted, you may face a terrifying choice: stay and risk suffering and death or flee your home. These are just some of the reasons why people forced to flee their homes in Ecuador need access to from violence, food, education, and opportunities to rebuild their lives,” said Rizzo.
To ensure an effective response to the needs of the displaced population, it is vital that the Government and the international community work together to ensure a proper and timely response to all the victims of violence. “If the displaced population remains invisible and unsupported there will be no improvement to the current crisis in Ecuador,” added Rizzo.
Notes to editors:
- As a result of violence, the country’s homicide rate jumped to a record 47 per 100,000 residents in 2023, up from just 6 per 100,000 in 2018. Ecuador concluded 2024 with 6,818 homicides, marking an 18% decrease compared to the previous year (Insight Crime).
- According to 3iSolution more than 80,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Ecuador due to the ongoing violence.
- The recent escalation in violence across Ecuador has severely affected children’s access to school, particularly in the two target provinces. Students face multiple risks affecting their ability to attend school, specifically when transiting between home and school. These dangers include the risk of exposure to homicide, threats, recruitment, extortion in the form of forced payments, and GBV (ACAPS).
- For nearly two decades, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been assisting refugees and migrants in Ecuador. In 2024, NRC adapted its work to provide crucial support to internally displaced persons within the country.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- NRC Ecuador, Karen Davila: karen.davila@nrc.no, +593 98 146 6578