Trapped in Ecuador
The problems facing people trying to get home because of the Covid-19 virus have been highlighted by two separate incidents in Ecuador, writes David Ing
On one hand, more than 60 much-needed Spanish medical staff who had been carrying out voluntary assistance work in the South American country were trapped when it decided to close its borders, and on the other, the blocking of an airport runway by the city council in the coastal city of Guayaquil prevented the landing of two relief planes from Europe early on 19 March.
The group of 63 medical staff, including both doctors and nurses from various parts of Spain, arrived in Ecuador on 24 February, planning to stay until the end of March. One of the nurses told Spanish newspaper ABC that she was among those who had managed to reach the capital city of Quito and found a flight for 21 March. “But they can’t assure us that it will leave, because they have cancelled several these last few days,” she said.
The group was taking part in an international campaign to improve hygiene standards in Ecuador when the country banned meetings of more than 30 people, closed its land and sea borders and suspended scheduled international flights.
She said the medical group had been spread around the country, with some still trying to make their way to Quito. “We are health workers and we are much needed in Spain right now as the system (there) is overrun,” she said.
In the Guayaquil incident, film of which was broadcast by Spanish national TV company RTVE, city Mayor Cynthia Viteri ordered vehicles to be parked along the runway, forcing an Iberia Airbus A340 and a KLM Boeing 777 to reroute to Quito. Her party, the PSC (Partido Social Cristiano) is a staunch opponent of the Alianza País, a coalition movement led by national president Lenin Moreno.
It was his government that had specially authorised the landing of the two planes, carrying crew only, to repatriate people to Europe.
The action was taken, Valtieri said later, because it was understood passengers were arriving on the planes.
Spanish aircraft have been banned from more than 100 countries since it emerged that Spain has the second biggest outbreak of Covid-19 so far in Europe.