HIAS Ecuador

HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, is the international migration agency of the American Jewish community. It  provides rescue and refuge for persecuted and oppressed Jews around the world. In recent years, as the population of Jewish refugees has diminished, HIAS has directed its expertise to assist refugees and immigrants of all backgrounds. HIAS provides protection and assistance to some of the most endangered populations around the world. Depending on location, these services can include trauma counseling, art therapy, legal advice, and humanitarian assistance. HIAS  assists refugees from more than 20 countries with U.S. resettlement, immigrant integration, and citizenship programs, working closely with the U.S. government, the government of Israel and other countries, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and a host of non-governmental organizations. In November and December 2010 I visited the HIAS offices in Quito and Ibarra, Ecuador where my long time partner was a volunteer. These photos show some of HIAS work there.

The childrens corner is a place for supervised play for kids whose caregivers are being serviced by HIAS

HIAS provides counselling, education, child care and various group activities for adults and children.

HIAS works with the UNHCR and UNICEF to provide food and shelter to Colombian refugees who are fleeing government persecution, the FARC and paramilitary groups

food for the family	Basic content of a food ration	Cooking oil to be distributed with food rations
HIAS provides bedding for clients as well as food	food and bedding ready for family	Food for clients
Mommy's helper	leaving HIAS with food	Loading the car

HIAS services refugees in their initial stages after they leave Colombia. We had the opportunity to meet some of HIAS clients and see the housing available to them.

Sleeping child	Doing the family laundry	Refugee housing
More refugee housing	A Doocesan shelter provides temporary housing until permanent housing can be found	The shelter kitchen
One client helps support the family by making masks and other artwork

Housing in one location was substandard and HIAS has discontinued placing refugees at that site. On the day we visited the UNHCR was investigating and inspecting the complex

A family of eight lived in a room just like this one	Six families had to share this bathroom	Laundry drying over debris
The outside	UNHCR was inspecting the site as we were visitings