The mass displacement of Venezuelans due to the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis has reshaped urban areas across Latin America. Ecuador, the third-largest host of displaced Venezuelans, has seen significant impacts on both its urban infrastructure and the food security of its migrant population. The COVID-19 pandemic only intensified these challenges, exposing Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador to severe food insecurity. This blog explores the intersection of migration and food security during the pandemic. It draws on findings from the MiFOOD study in Ecuador, which comprises three focus groups conducted in June 2022 in the cities of Quito, Manta and Machala that involved 21 participants, of whom 17 identified as women, 3 men and 1 person identified as LGBTQ+.
The Venezuelan Crisis and its Impact on Migration to Ecuador
Venezuela’s multidimensional crisis, marked by economic collapse, public service failures, and widespread poverty, has driven millions of Venezuelans to leave their homeland in search of basic necessities. Food insecurity has been one of the primary drivers of this mass migration. A staggering 94% of Venezuelans lacked sufficient income to afford basic food baskets, leading to chronic hunger and malnutrition. In Ecuador, approximately 514,000 Venezuelan migrants and refugees now reside, many of whom face precarious living conditions, compounded by the absence of robust state migration policies and social safety nets.
Food Insecurity in Ecuador: Pre-Pandemic Challenges
Before the pandemic, food insecurity was already a pressing issue in Ecuador, affecting both locals and migrants. National poverty levels hovered around 32%, with extreme poverty at 14.7%. Among displaced Venezuelans, these figures were even more alarming, with 73% of migrants categorized as irregular, meaning they lacked formal employment and social security. As a result, 90% of Venezuelan migrants were engaged in informal jobs, earning far below the poverty line.
For Venezuelan women in particular, the situation was dire. Women migrants often took on multiple jobs with long hours and low wages, all while managing caregiving responsibilities. The pandemic amplified these existing vulnerabilities, making it increasingly difficult for them to secure adequate food for themselves and their families.
The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Crisis on Top of a Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a devastating blow to the already fragile livelihoods of Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador. By the end of 2020, Ecuador had registered over 250,000 COVID-19 cases and 14,000 deaths, overwhelming the country’s healthcare system and economy. The pandemic led to widespread unemployment, a decline in household incomes, and a sharp increase in food insecurity. For migrant populations, these impacts were even more severe, particularly due to the closure of borders and the interruption of informal work, a lifeline for many.
During the lockdowns, many migrants, especially those working in informal sectors, lost their sources of income. A survey by UNICEF found that nearly half of households in Ecuador experienced moderate to severe food insecurity during the pandemic. Migrants, lacking the safety net of formal employment or government assistance, were disproportionately affected.
Coping with Hunger: Migrants’ Food Security Strategies
Focus group interviews highlight the coping strategies that Venezuelan migrants employed to survive during the pandemic. In urban areas such as Quito and Huaquillas, many migrants relied on food donations from international organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), though these were often insufficient. One participant from Quito described how they were forced to ration food, often prioritizing their children’s needs: “The priority is my grandchildren… there were days when I was dying of hunger, but as long as the children had something for breakfast and dinner, I could manage.”
In smaller, port cities like Manta and Puerto Lopez, some families were able to engage in bartering with local farmers, trading services like cooking for essential food items. However, such strategies were not available to all migrants, particularly those in larger cities where food insecurity was more severe, and informal job opportunities were scarce.
Participants consistently reported reducing their food intake, often skipping meals entirely. Most commonly, families would eliminate breakfast, with some reducing dinner as well. The reliance on food donations, bartering, and the sale of personal items became critical survival strategies for many migrant families during the pandemic.
Gendered Dimensions of Food Insecurity
The gendered nature of food insecurity among Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador was clear. Women, particularly mothers and grandmothers, bore the brunt of the crisis, often going hungry to ensure their children were fed. The focus group discussions revealed that women frequently sacrificed their own food security for the well-being of their families. One woman in Machala shared, “For me, the most important thing is that the children have something to eat. I can survive on tea or water if it means they don’t go hungry.”
This self-sacrifice was a common theme, with women consistently prioritizing the food needs of their dependents over their own physical well-being. The pandemic exacerbated these inequalities, as women faced additional burdens of caregiving while struggling to secure food.
The Role of International Organizations
In the absence of a robust state response, international organizations played a critical role in addressing the food security needs of Venezuelan migrants during the pandemic. Organizations like the World Food Program (WFP) and UNHCR provided food baskets and cash transfers to migrant families, though these efforts were limited by funding constraints. According to data from the Working Group for Refugees and Migrants (GTRM), only 34% of food security assistance requests were met during the pandemic, leaving a significant gap between need and aid.
The limited assistance provided by shelters and NGOs often fell short of addressing the scale of the food crisis. As one participant in Huaquillas noted, “We received a food basket from IOM, but it was gone in a week. I had to ask for more help, but they told me I had to wait because Ecuadorian families were prioritized.”
Urgent Action Needed for Migrant Food Security
The findings reveal a stark picture of food insecurity among displaced Venezuelans in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic amplified existing vulnerabilities, leaving migrants, particularly women, struggling to meet basic food needs. While international organizations played a crucial role in providing relief, the gap between demand and assistance was vast.
Moving forward, it is clear that more robust, long-term solutions are needed to address the food security of migrant populations in Ecuador. State policies that include migrants in social protection programs, alongside strengthened support from international organizations, will be essential in ensuring that displaced Venezuelans have access to adequate food and livelihoods, especially in times of crisis.
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