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human_interest English News Blog for  Ecuador News Blog February Archive 

300 Flee Violence

By Shannon at 02/27/07 23:04

Violence in southern Colombia has caused more than 300 people to flee across the San Juan River to a small norther Ecuadorian town of Chical. Humanitarian workers have been deployed to Chical to distribute emergency items and food rations.

Original source: Reuters Foundation AlertNet. Ecuador: Colombians arrive fleeing violence

Students See Differences Between Wealth and Poverty

Jacksonville University students on spring break went to a plush community and saw them having to bask in their properity behind fences topped with razor wire. These measures had to be taken to protect the wealthy from the poor as 60 percent live in crushing poverty.

Original source: Jacksonville.com. Cuba treated differently than China and Ecuador

Ecuador hopes to improve conditions, reduce number emigrating

Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador's foreign minister, said her country is studying a plan to use foreign aid to improve the conditions of the Ecuadorean people. "We need this strategy in order to persuade Ecuadoreans to stay at home." Ecuadoreans are Spain's largest immigrant group.

Original source: International Herald Tribune. Ecuador examining how to reduce number of emigrants to Spain, foreign minister says

Mass exodus is splitting families, child suicide rate skyrockets

13-year-old Jaime Castillo hadn't seen his father since he left for the United States three years ago. Jaime was so depressed he swallowed a packet of rat poison. Doctors were lucky to have been able to save him. The exodus of young parents has had devastating consequences for their children. "Fifteen years ago, youth suicides were unheard of," said Guido Pinos, a psychiatry professor at the university in Cuenca. Sixty percent of adult males have left the municipality. As a result, families fall apart, and youth suicide rates have risen 20 percent from the previous year.

Original source: Courant.com. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. courant. com/ news/ nationworld/ hc -ecuador0130. artjan30,0,200337. story, anchor: Left-Behind Children Choosing Suicide]