[Comment] Oil spill in Esmeraldas: a public health emergency in the context of environmental racism

Esmeraldas, a coastal province in northern Ecuador, is among the country's most vulnerable and marginalized regions. With more than 70% of its population self-identified as Afro-descendant and high levels of multidimensional poverty, it faces historical exclusion from essential public services such as health care, potable water, and sanitation. This configuration of vulnerability is key to understanding the impact of the oil spill that occurred on March 13, 2025,1 not only as an environmental disaster but also as a public health emergency and a human rights crisis.