The European Union and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are ramping up humanitarian assistance for refugees seeking safety along the volatile border between Colombia and Ecuador. The aim is to offer a lifeline to thousands of displaced families fleeing violence and persecution.
Refugees seeking safety: Single mother finds safety and support in Ecuador
According to European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, Paola, a single mother crossed the bridge at Rumichaca with only a backpack and her young child. She left behind her home, her job, and her community in Colombia after armed groups threatened her life.
“When they see a single mother, they want to force her into a relationship with them. I had to go away,” Paola recounted.
Every year, thousands of people make the desperate crossing, escaping threats, violence, and fear in search of safety. It is a chance to rebuild their lives.
However, the border crossing at Rumichaca exposes them to grave dangers, including gender-based violence. It paved way for forced recruitment by armed groups, human trafficking, and exploitation.
To address this crisis, the EU and UNHCR are working on both sides of the border to provide critical protection and essential services. Their joint effort offers displaced people access to legal pathways for regularising their status and immediate humanitarian relief.
EU funding bolsters UNHCR response as irregular crossings exceed 123,000 in 2025
After crossing into Tulcán in northern Ecuador, Paola said she found refuge at a Space of Integral Support, a centre backed by UNHCR and co-funded by the European Union. There, she received clothes, food, temporary shelter, and legal advice to apply for asylum.
Meanwhile, financial aid also helped her cover basic needs, marking a crucial step toward autonomy.
“The response requires speed, coordination, and a permanent presence. At the border, we see unaccompanied girls and boys, people at risk of statelessness and recruitment, victims of armed conflict, and survivors of gender violence,” said Carolina Pérez, who heads UNHCR’s office in Pasto, Colombia.
The border between Colombia and Ecuador stretches over 500 kilometres, dotted with hundreds of informal crossings. In 2025 alone, more than 123,000 people crossed irregularly from Colombia into Ecuador.
Additionally, in the Colombian border department of Nariño, 33 humanitarian emergencies have already affected over 12,000 people this year.
On the Colombian side at Rumichaca, UNHCR has assisted more than 1,800 people in 2025, offering legal information, protection referrals, healthcare, and temporary shelter. In Ecuador, the agency also supports national authorities to ensure refugees can access their rights.
These life-saving actions are made possible through European Union funding, which sustains essential services. It also strengthens local institutions, and enables continuous monitoring of risks to trigger immediate protection responses.
In a recent development, the EU airlifted 65 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Congo as fighting intensifies in the region. Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, disclosed that the shipment is facilitated through the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge.