The drama of the Venezuelan exodus sharpens

Ecuadornews:

Their massive arrival forces the State to seek solutions for housing, food, work or security … Venezuelans who emigrate from their country pushed by the economic crisis, however, can also be victims in Ecuador of crimes that the authorities, say, They are already investigating.

Trafficking in persons and the micro-trafficking of narcotic substances are the first alerts. “It’s been happening for a while,” said Gustavo Baroja, prefect of Pichincha. He called yesterday the Mobility Bureau of the province, covered by the state of emergency that was decreed last week.

According to him, there are clear indications of these crimes and it is up to the Ministry of the Interior to apply the sanctions. “There are people who are benefiting from this tragedy” he said. César Mantilla, Secretary of Social Inclusion of the Municipality of Quito, said that the complaints have come from the migrants themselves.

In the camp improvised by the Venezuelans in the sector of Carcelén (north of Quito) the testimonies are over. Katiuska Rodríguez told EXPRESO that a taxi driver offered her money to go with him. “We are in need, but we do not reach prostitution,” she said. She has heard that some of her traveling companions received offers to pass illicit substances.

Emberlin Piñate was offered to work attending tables, “but we must be sexy to seduce customers.” On the way, she added, they offered them ‘hikes’. She fears that these offers were intended to take women to other activities.

“Unfortunately, these settlements contribute to the existence of these crimes,” said Baroja. For this reason, in the capital seven temporary Transit Centers are enabled to welcome Venezuelans for five days, while they regularize their situation or find a solution to their cases. But not everyone is willing to stay there. Over the weekend 125 people were transferred to the seven centers and 83 more went to the San Juan de Dios shelter. There were only 43 left. The authorities have an explanation: “They do not want to be part of the internal processes. In each of the spaces there are rules to follow and you have to be strict with that, “argued Mantilla.

In the camp of Carcelén the version is different and they even speak of bad treatment. “They took us deceived, they told us they were going to give us everything. We could not sleep with our partner, “Rodriguez said.

Jesús Urbina left San Juan because “I do not like it, I feel it is for people with illnesses, not for foreigners”. José Carvajal said that they will stay in Carcelén until they go to a decent place, “because we are human beings and we deserve respect”.

The Government believes that a regional response is necessary. Santiago Chávez, Vice Minister of Human Mobility, announced that in the coming days he will convene the ambassadors of the countries of the region to formalize the joint meeting, scheduled for late September or early October, with the aim of analyzing the migratory flows of citizens Venezuelans. (I)

Source: https://www.expreso.ec/economia/productos-economia-costos-precios-estadisticas-GD2324668