Families seeking safety flee coastal drug-corridor provinces, overwhelming Andean cities. Persistent violence tied to drug trafficking has turned internal displacement into one of Ecuador’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies, according to a new assessment by the Ombudsman’s Office. Thousands of families — many from communities caught between criminal gangs — are abandoning their homes and resettling […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Two charismatic species inspire conservation as they navigate rivers from the Andes to the Amazon. A surprising diversity of “water dogs” From the urban waterfront of Guayaquil to remote lagoons deep in the Amazon, two species of otters make their home in Ecuador’s freshwater ecosystems. The neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is the versatile explorer of […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Police point to illicit networks infiltrating maritime and real estate businesses along Ecuador’s coast. Organized crime has tightened its grip on Manta, turning one of Ecuador’s most important fishing hubs into the scene of a series of targeted killings against business owners, ship captains, and maritime workers. Police say the pattern is no coincidence: each […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Stronger reform signals unlock loans, but final funds still hinge on December approvals. A shift from domestic to external lifelines After leaning heavily on domestic borrowing for most of the year, Ecuador is now receiving a wave of support from international lenders in the final stretch of 2025. By the end of October, internal debt […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Once-trusted leaders now clash over loyalty, identity and the future of Ecuador’s largest opposition force. A political relationship that endured nearly two decades has collapsed into public recriminations, ultimatums and now a widening purge. Marcela Aguiñaga — a former minister, party president and today prefect of Guayas — has walked away from the Citizen Revolution, […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Vice president takes charge of hospitals while navigating new social policy agenda and growing turmoil. The office of the Vice President has returned to the center of government action—this time not as a silent partner, but as a primary responder in Ecuador’s deepening health crisis. María José Pinto, who took office in May 2025, has […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Repeated equipment failures, pipeline risks and leadership turmoil deepen Petroecuador’s crisis. A widening gap from official targets Ecuador’s oil sector closed November with another disappointing result: national extraction averaged just 467,800 barrels per day, slipping farther from the government’s ambition to hit 500,000 barrels per day by year-end. The figure represents a 1.65% decline from […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.