COVID-19 containment measures and their impact on Venezuelan migrants in urban Ecuador

Control mobility and confinement measures were the main mechanisms used to contain the pandemic in Ecuador. The impact varied due to income level, access to services, resources, job stability, the possibility of working from home, location of housing, and migratory status. They had a particularly negative impact on migrant populations in Ecuador, as migrants were initially excluded from emergency food assistance programs during lockdown periods and were also the last to be allocated vaccinations within the country. This chapter examines how the pandemic disproportionately impacted migrants in urban centers in Ecuador, with a focus on the cities of Quito, Manta, and Machala. The chapter considers how the pandemic was particularly severe in sectors already affected by fiscal austerity measures and social budget cuts. The chapter also examines the positive impact of the second wave of the Ecuadorian COVID-19 vaccination program and its high level of uptake among urban migrant populations.