David Fidalgo Jaca, a Cuban national, lost his life this Thursday in a tragic car accident in Ecuador, as reported on social media platforms. The South American organization, Fe y Alegría, expressed heartfelt condolences on Facebook, honoring him as a former teacher and husband of their colleague Jimena Gómez Acosta, who teaches at the Fiscomisional Educational Unit "Concepción Temboury."
According to Fidalgo Jaca’s LinkedIn profile, he was a professional in the IT field, and his Facebook photos suggest he leaves behind two young children. As of now, further details about the accident remain undisclosed, but hundreds have expressed their sorrow.
Other Incidents Involving Cuban Nationals in Ecuador
In 2022, a Cuban doctor reportedly attempted suicide at the Los Ceibos clinic of the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security, situated in northern Guayaquil, according to local media reports. The cardiologist, aged 45, allegedly jumped from the third floor of the "Los Ceibos" hospital, landing on the roof of the second floor, approximately five meters below, as recounted on Facebook pages of Babahoyos and EC Digital.
A year prior, another Cuban doctor, Vladimir Carrazana, an intensivist at the IESS Hospital in Esmeraldas, passed away in Guayaquil over the weekend. Dr. Carrazana succumbed to complications from hemorrhagic dengue leading to multi-organ failure, a medical colleague informed CiberCuba.
Rising Cuban Immigration to Ecuador
In 2021, a significant 67 percent of foreigners who acquired Ecuadorian citizenship were from Cuba. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as quoted by El Comercio, noted that between January and September, 630 naturalization processes were recorded, more than doubling the 262 cases from 2020. The increase may be attributed to the pandemic-related closures.