Ecuador

2012 UNHCR country operations profile - Ecuador

Working environment

The context

Ecuador has the largest refugee population in Latin America, mainly comprising Colombians. As of June 2011, the Ecuadorian Government had recognized some 54,500 refugees, some 60 per cent of them living in urban areas. The remainder live close to the border in underdeveloped, isolated parts of the country with limited infrastructure and services. In these insecure areas armed groups clash over the drug trade, and human trafficking and arms smuggling are rampant.

By June 2011, nearly 20,500 new asylum applications had been submitted to the Ecuadorian authorities. Ecuador's Constitution, which is strongly oriented towards human rights, recognizes the right to seek asylum, and asylum procedures are regulated by national legislation. In January 2011 the authorities introduced new rules for admissibility in order to reduce the number of manifestedly unfounded asylum claims. Those applicants not admitted to the asylum procedures have limited possibilities to appeal under the administrative regulation.

The needs

Most refugees in Ecuador live in poverty, which seriously restricts their access not only to basic health and educational services but also to employment. There is, therefore, a great need for initiatives to improve their level of integration and self-reliance

Main objectives and targets for 2012

Favourable protection environment

Law and policy are developed and strengthened.

• The Government and authorities responsible for refugee status determination (RSD) receive UNHCR support.
• Asylum-seekers and refugees obtain documentation.

Security from violence and exploitation

The protection of children is enhanced.

• Operational guidelines related to Best Interests Determination (BID) processes are established.
• Special arrangements are made for the accommodation and care of unaccompanied adolescents, separated minors and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

The risk of sexual and gender-based violence is reduced and the quality of the response to it is improved.

• The national network of shelters is expanded and adapted to enhance the assistance available for women who are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
• A legal assistance scheme is established to support and give representation to women who are survivors of violence.

Basic needs and services

The population has improved access to education.

• Educational support is provided to children and adolescents.
• Educational facilities are constructed.
• Some 60 per cent of registered school-aged refugees and asylum-seeker children are enrolled in educational institutions.

Shelter infrastructure is established, improved and maintained.

• Emergency shelters are established.
• Shelter accommodation is maintained.

The health status of the population is improved.

• Infrastructure is constructed.
• Primary health supplies are provided.

The level of potable water supplied is maintained or increased.

• Water systems are constructed and maintained.

Fair protection processes and documentation

The quality of registration and profiling is improved or maintained.

• All refugees are provided with proper identity documents, certifying their legal status and entitling them to fundamental rights.
• The Refugee Directorate assumes responsibilities in registration, the processing of asylum claims and documentation.

Birth registration and civil status documentation is strengthened.

• Newborns are provided with birth certificates.
• The Government is supported in birth registration and documentation.

Durable solutions

Refugees and their host communities receive support for local integration, economic self-sufficiency and access to basic services.

• Self-reliance projects are implemented.
• Approximately 1,500 people in refugee-hosting provinces benefit from microcredits.

Resettlement is used efficiently, and adapted to the specific protection needs of refugees.

• Approximately 1,000 people are referred for resettlement, and 500 are assisted to depart for third countries.
• Group resettlement is conducted under UNHCR criteria.

Strategy and activities in 2012

The main objective for UNHCR in Ecuador is to maintain and reinforce the protection space for the refugee population in the country. Taking into consideration the increased number of asylum-seekers and refugees living in Ecuador, UNHCR will continue to focus its activities on supporting the Refugee Directorate, strengthening field monitoring and enhancing access to asylum procedures. It will also generate local-integration opportunities for rural and urban refugees through a community approach.

In addition, UNHCR will help people of concern through education, income generation, self-sufficiency and microcredit projects. It will boost resettlement as an integral part of the durable-solutions strategy, in particular within the framework of the 2004 Mexico Plan of Action. The challenge will be to get the Government, local authorities and civil society more actively involved in the protection of refugees, and the promotion of durable solutions.

In coordination with civil society, the United Nations system and government counterparts, UNHCR will continue working towards a favourable environment for refugees, through campaigns against xenophobia and discrimination.

Constraints

The confrontations between irregular armed Colombian groups in the border provinces are likely to intensify, making the implementation of UNHCR's activities more difficult as well as requiring firm measures to maintain staff security. The possibility exists that demobilized groups excluded from demobilization and reintegration programmes in Colombia turn to violence or join criminal gangs that operate in the border areas of Colombia and Ecuador, driving further displacement.

Access to RSD procedures will be more limited due to new admissibility procedure for asylum applications.

Identifying the specific needs of refugees when conducting normal RSD and strengthening the physical protection of refugees at risk will remain challenging.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

UNHCR will continue to support the Government and coordinate with a wide range of institutions in order to protect and assist refugees. UNHCR's network of 13 partners includes national and international NGOs. Though national NGOs have valuable expertise and human resources, they lack financial resources. In light of this situation, UNHCR has been focusing on building the capacity of local institutions.

As lead agency of the northern border inter-agency working group, comprising 16 agencies, UNHCR also implements activities jointly with IOM, UNDP, UNFPA (HIV and AIDS related projects), WFP (food distribution) and other sister agencies.

Financial information

Resource constraints have prevented UNHCR from expanding its response to meet the needs of growing refugee and asylum-seeker populations. Budget requirements have remained roughly the same over the last three years at some USD 21 million per year. Not all needs could be met, however, because the available resources only covered 50 per cent of the requirements. The most important unmet needs are for livelihoods projects, capacity-building and enhanced assistance to people of concern as well as infrastructure activities in sectors such as shelter, education, water and health. In 2012, UNHCR's budgetary requirements in Ecuador amount to USD 21 million and in 2013 to USD 21.5 million.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2012-2013

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