Fifty Ecuadorean nationals who were stranded in Colombia because of strike action have been returned to their home country Wednesday.
The joint effort of the governments of both Ecuador and Colombia saw the successful repatriation of the stranded Ecuadoreans who had been left stranded in Colombia due to road blocks and other travel disruptions caused by a wide range of strikes and protests throughout Colombia’s territory.
MORE: Colombia’s strike wave begins with violence and roadblocks
Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño announced via twitter that the stranded people had returned to Ecuador via plane, accompanied by security personnel as well as Colombian and Ecuadorian officials. While the strikes have been taking place for well over a week, rescue attempts were not previously attempted due to bad weather.
El vicecanciller Marco Albuja ha viajado personalmente a Pasto para asegurar retorno de ecuatorianos atrapados en cierre carreteras Colombia
— Ricardo Patiño Aroca (@RicardoPatinoEC) August 28, 2013
Ecuador envío avión para retorno de ecuatorianos atrapados por paro en Colombia. Gracias a Mindefensa-FFAA Ecuador y autoridades colombianas
— Ricardo Patiño Aroca (@RicardoPatinoEC) August 28, 2013
Colombian TV channel Cable Noticias also reported that a military plane was used to transport 36 of the stranded people from the Colombian town of Pasto to the Ecuadorean capital Quito.
Sources
- Más de 50 ecuatorianos varados por el paro retornan a su país (Cable Noticias)