The Food Security of Venezuelan Migrant and Refugee Families with Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ecuador

This research brief examines the structural challenges faced by Venezuelan migrant families with children and adolescents in accessing food in Quito, Ecuador. Our survey of 788 migrant and refugee families found that the prevalence of informal employment, the unequal distribution of household chores between genders, the breakdown of community and family support networks, as well as the lack of access to health and education, are all impacting their rates of malnutrition and food insecurity, especially families with children. This report underscores the urgency of developing comprehensive food security policies that prioritize the nutritional well-being of children, that also address gender disparities and structural factors impacting migrants and refugees in Ecuador.