2024-09-05 14:19:29
Until June 30, 2024, Ecuador registered 3,037 violent deathsThe sixth month of the year was the most violent, with 592 murders, when in February, which had only one day less, 367 of these crimes were committed.
This situation means that, on average, 16 people are victims of homicide every day. Despite this situation, The Government points out that there has been a reduction in these figureshaving declared an internal armed conflict against organized crime, in addition to implementing the so-called Phoenix Plan.
According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, in the first half of 2023 there were 3,601 murders, which means that, During the same period in 2024, 564 fewer victims were recorded.
Digging into more detail, such as the most violent cities during both years, it can be seen that much of this result It is due to the decrease in crimes against life in Guayaquil.
The main port went from 1,208 to 810 homicides. In addition, Esmeraldas, where a Joint Task Force between the National Police and the Armed Forces is consolidateddropped from second to seventh place; and Quito, which went from third to sixth place.
The same occurred in other major cities on the coast, such as Quevedo, Machala and Santo Domingo, with a reduction of between 70 and 50 murders.
However, other cantons are going through a more critical situation. The most relevant case is that of Durán, which recorded 235 murders as of June 30, moving from 13th to second placeIt is currently under government intervention, although that situation has not been able to stop the deaths.
Babahoyo and Buena Fe, which are the second and third most populated cantons in the province of Los Ríos, increased by 44 and 45 murders respectively.
The number of intentional homicides increased in Camilo Ponce Enríquez de Azuay, a canton that suffered the murder of its mayor and is a conflict zone between the Armed Forces and factions of the terrorist group Los Lobos, who participate in illegal mining and kidnap and extort those who legally work in this activity in southern Ecuador.
Compared to 2023, Crimes against life tripled in the province of Orellanabecoming the most unsafe Amazonian territory. The Jewel of Los Sachas and Puerto Francisco de Orellana have recorded more than 25 deaths so far this year.