"In the neighborhoods of Guayaquil, the silence hangs heavy. No longer does one hear the shouts of children running after a ball, nor the music that once came from speakers on the street corners. Even the salsa has ceased. The daily hush is only interrupted when one hears gun shots. People throw themselves to the floor, away from the windows, hide under a table or in any corner that offers safety."
"Eze had been standing near the target, and hadn't run when the shooting began. He was paralyzed immediately when one of the bullets hit his back, a lethal blow. A photo of Ezequiel on his mother's cell phone.VICENTE GAIBOR In Ecuador, between January and August of this year, 386 minors have been murdered, the equivalent of three children and teenagers being slain every 48 hours, due to growing violence in the country."
Neighborhoods of Guayaquil are emptied of play and music as gunfire dominates daily life. Residents hide under tables, throw themselves to the floor, and avoid windows when shots ring out. Random bullets ricochet through streets, turning public spaces into a lethal Russian roulette. Ezequiel, a five-year-old boy, was shot dead on his doorstep while standing near a young man targeted by a shooter. Between January and August, 386 minors were murdered, a 50% increase from the same period last year, with 91% of victims killed by firearms. The violence leaves families ruptured and communities paralyzed by fear.
Read at english.elpais.com
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