Ecuador Concludes Special Consular Aid in Venezuela Post-Earthquake

The Ecuadorian government is set to conclude its temporary in-person consular services in Venezuela, which were established to assist Ecuadorian citizens following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24th. The special mission, deployed in early July, provided essential consular assistance for 30 days.

During this period, Ecuadorians in Venezuela were able to access services such as the issuance and renewal of passports and identity documents. They could also register births, deaths, marriages, and civil unions. The services were primarily offered at the Section of Interests of Ecuador, located within the Swiss Embassy in Caracas. From this location, consular staff issued approximately 600 passports, with priority given to earthquake victims, the elderly, minors, and individuals with disabilities.

In total, over 1,500 people received assistance at the consular office and in areas affected by the seismic events. The mission also included legalizations and apostilles of documents, along with support for child protection processes. Despite the conclusion of the in-person mission on July 27th, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility stated that consular services will continue through digital channels and from the Ecuadorian consulates in Bogotá, Colombia, and Panama City, Panama, ensuring ongoing support for its citizens.

The article also touches upon the broader context of bilateral relations, noting that Ecuador and Venezuela have had severed diplomatic ties since 2024. However, following the earthquakes, Ecuador provided significant humanitarian aid, including over 100 firefighters from Quito and Guayaquil and more than 30 tons of essential supplies. A military aircraft carrying aid also facilitated the repatriation of 36 Ecuadorians and the remains of three citizens who perished in the earthquakes. The official toll from the earthquakes in Venezuela stands at 5,546 deaths, 16,740 injuries, and approximately 18,000 people left homeless.