Ecuador Faces Mass Exodus as Gang Violence Escalates

A sharp rise in gang fighting in Ecuador has forced thousands of families to abandon their homes. Residents report that gangs strip abandoned houses for drug money or use them to conceal kidnapping victims. One grandmother, who had lived in a housing development for nearly two decades, fled after bullets began striking her neighborhood’s rooftops. Police and community members say the violence has intensified to the point where entire housing projects are being taken over. The displacement leaves families without shelter and erodes community stability, while the gangs gain control of property and resources. The situation underscores a growing crisis in the country’s urban areas, where escalating violence is driving widespread migration and creating new opportunities for criminal exploitation.