The refugees of San Lorenzo, Ecuador

ECUADOR | Friday, 5 July 2013 | Views [1463] | View Smaller Image

A large portion of the refugees in San Lorenzo live near the mangroves in stilt houses. As the tides rise, the floor beneath the houses are cleaned of debris and waste. The wooden boards that lead to and between the houses test ones balance, especially after heavy rain. Pictured here, a young boy is helped up by his siblings after falling from the house where he lives.

Tags: refugee, refugees, asylum seekers, colombia, colombian refugees, ecuador, human rights, san lorenzo

Children are everywhere. Many are sent to school during the day, others do not attend school and spend their time playing and swimming at the dock. On the warmest of days, the dock is slick with water as youngsters take turns launching themselves into the water below.

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Many refugee families lack a source of income, yet fishing along the mangroves provides self-sustenance as well as products to sell at the local market. Unfortunately, Ecuadorian authorities claim that the communities here are exploiting mangrove resources and must be evicted. In this photo, a notice on the wall warns residents of actions to enforce their eviction.

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The refugees of San Lorenzo, Ecuador

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