I know I have to wait patiently despite the overwhelming economic problems I face. As you know, I have two children of school-going age and I have had to take on the responsibilities of a father toward them.67 Now that months have passed since my husband's detention, my family and I are in a desperate situation, because I don't know exactly where my husband is, every day I am tormented by worries about how he is and what state he is in both physically and emotionally.68 3. Investigations and other steps taken on account of the disappearance of Mr. Jorge Vásquez Durand 75. The family members and petitioners took numerous steps to ascertain the whereabouts of Mr. Vásquez Durand. Given the alleged impossibility of going to Ecuador because of the armed conflict at that time,69 those actions were undertaken before the Peruvian authorities, for them to make inquiries with their Ecuadorian counterparts, and through religious and human rights organizations that could likewise make inquiries in Ecuador. 76. As noted in the Truth Commission's report, [...] When she had no more news of her husband, María Gomero filed complaints with the Peruvian National Congress, the Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos del Perú (APRODEH), the Council for Peace (Consejo por la Paz), the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the foreign ministries of Ecuador, Brazil, and Argentina, and the Episcopal Conference, but failed to elicit any information. Several moves were undertaken by Ecuadorian authorities in Ecuador to try and locate Jorge Vásquez. Those inquiries were addressed to the Military Brigade in El Oro, the Archbishopric in Cuenca, the Command Headquarters of the Tarqui Division, the highest military body in El Oro, and the Office of the Archbishop of the Armed Forces. All these efforts also came to nothing.70 77. In the IACHR file, there are letters sent by Mr. Vásquez Durand's wife to the Director General of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru, asking her to take steps to secure his release.71 Likewise, there is a note in the file from the Director of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru, dated November 27, 1995, to the Director of APRODEH, informing him that a communication had been received from the Office of the Consul General of Peru in Machala, Ecuador, regarding the situation of "Peruvian citizen JORGE VASQUEZ DURAND, detained on January 30, 1995 by Ecuadorian army personnel in Huaquillas and later taken to Quito." The note details the inquiries made by the Bishop of Machala with Ecuadorian military and religious authorities with a view to ascertaining his whereabouts.72 67 See Appendix 32. Note from María Esther Gomero de Vásquez, dated Monday, May 22, 1995. Appended to a writ submitted by the petitioners on May 22, 1995. 68 See Appendix 33 (Letters from Mrs. María Esther Gomero de Vásquez, dated February 13, and May 29, 1995, respectively, addressed to the Director General of Consular Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru. Appended to the note from the State of Peru, dated November 10, 1995) concerning Mrs. María Esther Gomero de Vásquez's letter dated May 29, 1995. 69 Appendix 32. Note from María Esther Gomero de Vásquez, dated Monday, May 22, 1995. Appended to a writ submitted by the petitioners on May 22, 1995. 70 Appendix 40. Report of the Truth Commission of Ecuador. 2007. Volume 4 Accounts of cases. 1988-2008 periods, pp. 82-84. Available at: http://www.alfonsozambrano.com/comision_verdad/index.htm 71 Appendix 33. Letters from Mrs. María Esther Gomero de Vásquez, dated February 13, and May 29, 1995, respectively, addressed to the Director General of Consular Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru. Appended to Brief of the State of Ecuador dated November 10, 1995. 72 Appendix 34. Note from the Director of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru, dated November 27, 1995. Appendix to the petitioners’ brief of November 29, 1995. 17