Violence in Ecuador

11 January 2024, Ecuador, Quito: Elite teams from the Ecuadorian armed forces carry out patrols and searches to combat crime in conflict-prone sectors of the city of Quito. They are looking for weapons, drugs and possible members of the "terrorists", as the central government calls organized crime groups. In view of the escalating gang crime in Ecuador, human rights activists have warned of a massive increase in violence in the South American country. Photo: Juan Diego Montenegro/dpa (Photo by Juan Diego Montenegro/picture alliance via Getty Images)