Quito, February 28 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Ecuador accepts more refugees than any other country in the region, as the South American country signed an agreement with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in February to provide greater protection to people with transitory status.

This agreement seeks to provide support to refugees, Ecuadoreans returning from abroad, immigrants, emigrants, and victims of human trafficking, and ensure their rights granted by the constitution and international law.

The U.N. Refugee Agency and the National Assembly are working to support some 56,000 refugees currently in Ecuador — 98 percent of whom are Colombians — as well as those Ecuadoreans who emigrated during the financial crisis of 1999, who are returning to the country.

National Assembly representative for migrants living in the United States and Canada, and legislator for ruling PAIS Alliance party Linda Machuca told teleSUR English that this was an important opportunity for the country.

Machuca, who also heads the working group for the rights of transitory people, said strategic alliances with the UNHCR are important, “so that we can develop initiatives based on the experiences of organizations like them.”