UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited Honduras, Colombia and he was in Ecuador on December the 16th, as part of his schedule of visits in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In Ecuador Grandi met with Juan Carlos Holguín, Minister of Foreign Affairs and witnessed some initiatives to approach the challenges of integrating thousands of displaced people, such as a regularization process for refugees and migrants from Venezuela. He also knew about some activities that the private sector is working for the benefit of refugees from Colombia, Venezuela and other nationalities.
During this visit, the most important topics discussed were the progress in regularization process for migrants and refugees, the increase in violence in the areas, the economic difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the deepening of poverty due to high unemployment and low wages have prevented many people displaced by force to find stability, forcing many of them to undertake long and dangerous journeys.
I encourage donor governments, development agencies, international financial institutions and the private sector to invest more in countries of origin, transit and destination, to support the exemplary responses to forced displacement that are taking place in the region. These include regularization, integration and social inclusion initiatives for refugees and other displaced persons.
Filippo Grandi UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Grandi visited Guayaquil, one of the most important cities of Ecuador, where he made short-term tours in places intervened by international implementing partners. Visiting Ecuador, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi heard the devastating stories from Venezuelan and Colombian refugees who recently fled.
He interacted with displaced people, community leaders, some international implementing partners such as HIAS, NRC and AVSI, and some local implementing partners such as CDH, CORPEI and Girls in Tech. José Xavier Samaniego, director for the Americas for UNHCR and Giovanni Bassu Representative of UNHCR in Ecuador were present as well.
Yubari Valero country manager of AVSI in Ecuador represented our organization during the visit. AVSI in Ecuador promotes human rights, supports and protects human mobility, refugees and migrants from all nationalities.
