Ecuador: State of emergency amid influx of Venezuelans

Event

The Ecuadorian government declared a state of emergency for humanitarian purposes in three provinces amid an influx of Venezuelan migrants entering the country via Colombia and Peru. The measure, declared on August 8, will remain in effect in Carchi, Pichincha (home to the capital Quito), and El Oro through the end of August. Under the state of emergency, extra medical and immigration personnel, as well as social workers, will be deployed to the above provinces.

According to the government, some 4200 Venezuelans had entered the country on a daily basis in the previous week.

Context

According to official statistics, 454,000 Venezuelan migrants entered Ecuador in the first half of 2018, of which 72,000 remained in Ecuadorian territory. The majority have continued on to third countries, such as Chile and Peru. The rate of arrivals has reportedly increased in recent days.

Over a million Venezuelan refugees have fled their country and the migrant crisis is expected to worsen throughout 2018 as Venezuela's economy continues to falter. The IMF has estimated that by the end of 2018 the Venezuelan economy will shrink by 15 percent and inflation in the country could reach 1,000,000 percent. Venezuelans face shortages of gasoline, food, medicine, and other basic necessities, as well as extreme rates of violent crime, social unrest, and an ongoing political crisis.

Advice

Individuals in Ecuador are advised to keep abreast of the situation and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.