Camaroneros, sports managers and hoteliers are joining forces these days in the port city of Guayaquil so that members of the Armed Forces and the National Police of Ecuador feel accompanied while the “war” declared by the government against criminal gangs lasts, which is been classified as “terrorist groups”.
According to official sources, currently 22,400 soldiers carry out operations to neutralize “terrorists” in 20 sectors of a dozen provinces of Ecuador, and the number of police officers amounts to 56,000.
For this reason, the Ecuadorian Entrepreneurial Committee (EEC), made up of 138 unions in the country, created ‘You protect us, we take care of you’, a campaign that invites companies and citizens to donate “to everyday heroes who dedicate themselves to protect and serve society, and who today patrol the streets to ensure our safety.
Preserves, vitamins, blankets, flashlights, biscuits, hydrating drinks, antibacterial gel, face masks, wet cloths, sunscreen, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste are the items that are collected not only in Guayaquil but also in other cities such as Quito, Samborondón, Riobamba, Ambato, Cuenca and Manta.
“What we want is for the aid to reach the collection centers and be distributed appropriately,” said Miguel González, president of the Committee and the Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce.
A group of soldiers patrol a subway station in Quito this Monday. Photo: AFP Conflict zone kit
On Monday afternoon, the Las Cámaras building became the collection center for thousands of boxes that will be distributed to police and military personnel serving in the coastal provinces of Guayas (whose capital is Guayaquil), Manabí, El Oro and Esmeraldas.
They record much of the violence generated by the 22 criminal gangs declared “terrorist” by the government presided over by Daniel Noboa, who took office just two months ago.
“We believe that the time has come to join forces. This is a fight in which the country must move forward because we cannot allow the soldiers and police who fight crime to remain without escorts,” said Yahira Piedrahita, director of the executive of EFE. of the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA).
Piedrahita, in charge of coordinating the ‘Unite forces’ campaign, hopes to collect at least 2,000 aid kits which will be delivered this week “to the troops who have left their barracks and for now cannot return because they are in camps or in areas where Not easy to access food or toiletries.
Each box contains alcohol, pasta, hand soap, oil, toothpaste, rice, a blanket, water, toilet paper, coffee, toothbrush and sugar.
The reaction was swift after the crisis erupted on January 9, which left at least eight dead and 35 hostages taken at a local television station in Guayaquil alone.
Tanks and soldiers in front of a prison in Machala, Ecuador. The escape from prison of two drug trafficking leaders has sparked a bloody crisis in Ecuador. Photo: AFP On previous occasions they had responded similarly, such as in the 2016 earthquake, when tents, mattresses, water and food were collected for the victims; and during the pandemic, when they donated masks and disinfection equipment to the Police and supported vaccination.
Applause and free burgers
“For those who are out taking care of us and our families, the doors will be open for you when you get hungry, thirsty or need to rest. This place awaits you,” a burger chain said on social media.
Likewise, Corporación Favorita, one of the country’s largest business conglomerates, promised to deliver “20,000 rations of food and water to our brave men in uniform” and set up a collection point. collection of donations.
Consumers also joined the demonstrations of solidarity and gratitude as they slowly began to return to shopping centers and welcomed the officers who entered to carry out security checks with applause.
Likewise, the sports managers of the Ecuadorian Football League and clubs such as Barcelona and Emelec, both from Guayaquil, distributed food to the public force as a sign that the “internal armed conflict” affects all sectors and that it is a commitment of Worldwide. society to contribute to the return of peace to the country.
Source: EFE
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.