International
Hundreds of elderly abandoned in Ecuador as families migrate abroad
Approximately 400 elderly individuals in Ecuador are surviving with the help of neighbors and the solidarity of local authorities in the Andean province of Chimborazo after being abandoned by their families when they migrated abroad.
The phenomenon of migration, common in the area, has evolved, as previously it was only one family member – usually the head of the household – who would migrate and send remittances, but now entire families are leaving in search of better living conditions abroad.
Hermel Tayupanda Cuvi, the prefect of Chimborazo, told EFE that many people, especially from the municipalities of Alausí, Chunchi, Guamote, Colta, and Riobamba, are migrating to North America, leaving with their respective children or spouses.
“There are no longer voters,” he said, noting that while Colta’s voter registry lists 45,000 voters, only about 30,000 actually turn out to vote: “the remaining 15,000 have not passed away but are no longer here.”
Although remittances are not flowing as they did before, according to the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE), in the second quarter of 2023, Chimborazo received $51.88 million in remittances, marking a 16.28% increase from the first quarter of 2023 and a 42.79% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
With 62.75%, Riobamba, the provincial capital, accounted for the majority of remittance inflows, with the remainder distributed among Alausí, Chunchi, Guamote, Pallatanga, Cumandá, and other cities.
Solidarity
Tayupanda emphasized that with the decline in remittance money, “only the elderly remain, the very elderly parents.”
“And here, we have to do a small fundraiser. We also have small projects to take food, home visits, and phone calls to children to send money because the elderly are being left abandoned, without the care of their children,” he warned.
The prefect estimated that relatives of between 2,000 and 3,000 elderly individuals transfer money to taxi drivers to purchase groceries and deliver them to their homes.
Additionally, these elderly individuals care for their sheep and guinea pigs during the week and sell them at the market on weekends or send someone to do so.
“But there are a few who are completely abandoned, whose children do not return, perhaps there are about 300 or 400 people,” Tayupanda estimated, noting that the community helps them.
Furthermore, the Prefecture is seeking ways to support them. “We have gone to deliver any kind of food purchases with our own funds. What we earn as directors and coordinators, we contribute in some way, a little salary from the year, from our own pocket, and we create a common fund to go and deliver these food items to the elderly,” the prefect said.
Patronage and Ministries in Ecuador
Through the Patronage, the elderly receive medical attention in the communities, said Tayupanda, within the framework of a visit by diplomats from European countries, led by the Ambassador of the European Union (EU), Charles-Michel Geurts, to Chimborazo to analyze, in the area, possibilities of assistance in different areas.
“As there are 1,800 communities in the province of Chimborazo, it is impossible to reach everyone,” Tayupanda acknowledged, noting that they also receive support from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES).
Most of the completely abandoned elderly are in Colta, Guamote, Alausí, Chunchi, and “they have already started to increase here in Riobamba, Guano… the young people are no longer seeking the countryside, they are more looking for the city,” he added.
Precisely, the mayor of Alausí, Remigio Roldán, told EFE that from his municipality, “complete families have left” for the United States and Spain “because the governments have not addressed solving problems.”
“The children have emigrated to the United States, generally, and the parents, the elderly, have been left alone at home,” he noted, explaining that with the MIES, he has a gerontology center, and they also visit homes and develop social projects for the elderly.
“Many have forgotten about their parents, the elderly,” he lamented, noting that there are around 200 elderly individuals “completely alone” in his municipality, and neighbors help them as much as they can and collect donations to provide clothing and food.
International
FBI Says It Disrupted Alleged Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced Tuesday that it had disrupted an alleged plot to attack the White House during a major Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held in Washington over the weekend.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the threat was identified on June 10 through a joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. According to Patel, swift action by authorities led to the arrest of several suspects before the alleged plan could be carried out.
“On June 10, the FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat targeting UFC America 250 in Washington. Thanks to the rapid response of the FBI and our partners, multiple individuals are now in custody, and the alleged attack plans were stopped before they could be executed,” Patel said.
He emphasized that the operation demonstrated the ability of security agencies to detect and prevent potential threats at large public gatherings. Patel added that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional details will be released as court proceedings move forward.
According to reports from U.S. media outlets, five individuals have been arrested so far. The suspects were identified as Tycen Proper of Ohio, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, Abraham Hermosillo Álvarez of Nebraska, and Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both from California. Authorities are also investigating the possible involvement of 18 additional individuals.
Investigators allege that the plot involved the use of drones equipped with explosives to target buildings near the sporting event. The plan reportedly sought to trigger a mass evacuation and direct attendees toward areas where snipers were allegedly positioned. Authorities further claim that a second phase of the operation included an attempted assault on the White House.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that it worked closely with the FBI throughout the operation. Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated that security teams conducted extensive efforts to identify those involved and eliminate any threat to attendees and protected facilities.
The investigation reportedly uncovered communications conducted through the messaging application Signal, where several suspects allegedly discussed details related to the planned attack. A forensic analysis of one of the seized mobile phones revealed at least 23 users participating in conversations connected to the alleged planning activities.
Court documents also indicate that some of the suspects allegedly intended to target U.S. political figures. Among the reported targets were members of Congress who had received contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Investigators further stated that one of the primary suspects had posted antisemitic messages and expressions of support for Adolf Hitler on social media, evidence that is now part of the ongoing judicial investigation.
International
Brazil helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro kills six, including pilots and international figures
The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police confirmed on Monday the identities of three of the six victims killed in a helicopter collision that occurred the previous morning in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood.
All three identified victims are Brazilian nationals: the pilots of the aircraft, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza, and music producer Lucas Brito.
The identities of the three foreign victims have not yet been officially confirmed. They include U.S. singer Oliver Tree, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim—known online as “Gaspi”—and Argentine producer Lucas Vignale, all of whom were listed on the flight manifest.
According to police, forensic experts from the Legal Medical Institute have already collected DNA samples in order to identify the foreign victims, whose bodies were severely burned.
One of the helicopters crashed into a private parking lot, triggering a fire that destroyed around twenty electric vehicles. That aircraft was carrying the pilot and four passengers, including the three foreign nationals.
The second helicopter, which had only the pilot on board, crashed approximately 100 meters away from the first impact site.
Rio de Janeiro’s deputy mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, stated that both helicopters were operating transport flights toward Angra dos Reis on the Rio coastline and toward the mountainous region of the state.
Oliver Tree, 32, was in Brazil as part of an international tour. The artist, known for songs such as “Life Goes On” and “Miss You,” had performed to a large audience in São Paulo a week earlier and was scheduled to continue his tour in Europe.
Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim, 23, had built a following of more than two million on social media platforms, gaining popularity for humorous and often controversial video productions that had occasionally been removed by hosting platforms.
International
Mexico and U.S. Launch New Bilateral Security Group to Combat Fentanyl and Organized Crime
The governments of Mexico and the United States officially launched the Bilateral Implementation Group (BIG) on Friday, a new initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on security issues and enhancing joint efforts against transnational crime.
In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson announced that he and Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco addressed officials from both countries who will lead what he described as a “new phase of bilateral cooperation.” The initiative seeks to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, illegal firearms, and human trafficking across the shared border.
Earlier this week, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that senior security officials from both nations would meet in Mexico City on June 12 to review and advance existing cooperation agreements.
Through social media, Ambassador Johnson explained that the new bilateral group is designed to improve coordination between the two governments by placing greater emphasis on implementation, accountability, and measurable results. The effort will also focus on combating transnational criminal organizations operating across North America.
“The participation of 15 U.S. government agencies, working alongside their Mexican counterparts, reflects the seriousness of this effort and our shared commitment to delivering measurable results,” Johnson said.
The ambassador also highlighted several achievements that he attributed to ongoing bilateral cooperation. According to Johnson, maritime drug trafficking into the United States has declined by more than 95 percent, while overdose deaths have fallen by 35 percent.
He further noted that Mexican authorities have seized more than 400 metric tons of illegal drugs and dismantled over 2,300 clandestine laboratories as part of their efforts to combat organized crime and narcotics production.
The launch of the Bilateral Implementation Group marks the latest step in the security partnership between Mexico and the United States, as both countries seek to address shared challenges related to drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and the activities of criminal networks operating across the region.
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