The Ecuadorian Government still does not foresee a humanitarian evacuation for its compatriots who are in Israel. Most are looking for commercial flights.
Dozens of passengers wait for their flights at Ben Gurion airport, located southeast of Tel Aviv, in Israel, on October 7, 2023.
Approximately 1,000 Ecuadorians are in Israel, according to information from the Ecuadorian Embassy in that country. As of October 10, 2023, there are no reports of compatriots killed or missing in the midst of the conflict with the extremist group Hamas.
María Concepción Barahona, Ecuador’s ambassador to Israel, reported, in an interview with Ecuavisa, that about 950 Ecuadorians live in that country; In addition, there are about 20 doctors doing their hospital residencies and other groups of students.
But there are also Ecuadorians who have traveled as tourists . In some cases, scheduled flights have been cancelled.
“We are not in a situation that warrants a humanitarian evacuation , because you can still leave Israel,” explained the official, who explained that the majority are looking for commercial flights to leave the country .
The Foreign Ministry of Ecuador assured that it has made contact with the citizens who are waiting for their flights .
“These people have received due and timely assistance from our authorities and have begun to return in a safe and orderly manner,” the institution said in a statement.
Register of Ecuadorians
Ambassador Barahona added that, preventively, the Foreign Ministry is making the necessary contacts to “be prepared to carry out an evacuation” if the conflict continues to escalate.
For this reason, the institution asked Ecuadorians residing in Israel to update their data in a number assigned for citizen registration on the WhatsApp platform +972 53-950-7255 .
There are hundreds of Latin American citizens in Israel. The Government of Colombia has already begun the management of the repatriation of its citizens who are tourists and who wish to return to the country.
