Key facts
- Over 300,000 Ecuadoreans have fled their homes in the last three years due to gang violence.
- Gangs are targeting homes, using them for drug-related activities or to hide kidnapping victims.
- The Nueva Prosperina district in Guayaquil has seen heavy bloodshed and resident flight.
- Ecuador has the third-highest level of internal displacement in Latin America.
- The country's homicide rate has risen significantly, reaching 51 per 100,000 inhabitants last year.
- There is a lack of legal recognition and support for victims of forced displacement.
Hundreds of thousands of Ecuadoreans have been forced to abandon their homes over the past three years due to escalating gang violence, with many homes being stripped for drug money or used to hide kidnapping victims. The Nueva Prosperina district in Guayaquil has been a focal point of this bloodshed, with residents fleeing due to indiscriminate targeting, death threats, extortion, and the recruitment of young people by criminal groups.
According to the UN Refugee Agency and the Ombudsman's Office, over 300,000 people have been displaced, though advocates suggest the true number may be higher. Ecuador now ranks third in Latin America for internal displacement, behind Haiti and Colombia, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. This surge in violence is linked to Ecuador's role as a drug transit hub.
President Daniel Noboa, who took office in 2023, vowed to crack down on the violence. However, his security strategy has been criticized for potentially worsening the situation, as the killing and arrest of criminal leaders have led to gang factions splintering and fighting over territory. Ecuador recorded 9,216 violent deaths last year, an eightfold increase from a decade ago.
Despite the government's claims of diminishing criminal groups and an 8% drop in killings between January and July this year compared to the same period in 2025, gangs continue to exert control through extortion. Residents report receiving threats via WhatsApp and facing intimidation, with many cases going unreported due to fear. The violence is not limited to Guayaquil, affecting Indigenous communities, businesses in Babahoyo, and families in the Amazon province.
Government officials have acknowledged the problem but appear unsure of which agency is responsible for addressing forced displacement. Human rights advocates highlight the lack of legal recognition for violence-induced displacement, which hinders victim assistance and monitoring. Many displaced families struggle to find resources or support, forcing some to live alongside gangs, effectively becoming 'silent accomplices' under their rule.