Some 45,000 Colombian citizens taking refuge in Ecuador have received refugee visas from the Ecuadorian government, an official of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said here on Tuesday. Janet Lim, a representative of the UNHCR in Ecuador, told a press conference that the visas were issued according to Ecuador's Extended Registration plan. The plan, she said, has been executed in the border region with Colombia, with the aim to legalize the status of thousands of Colombian citizens who arrived in the region to escape the violence in their country. However, Lim admitted that it is estimated that some 135,000 Colombians in Ecuador still need international protection. During her visit to Ecuador's border region with Colombia last weekend,Lim said she inspected the legalization procedure carried out by Ecuador with the help of the UNHCR. 'The Extended Registration is a very important step, with which I can give the Colombians a legal status in Ecuador, and with this legal status it will be easier for them to have access to the basic services,' she said. The UNHCR official said Ecuador has the largest number of refugees in South America and its Extended Registration plan is a 'unique and particular' model, which has allowed to register many people and can also be applied in other countries with similar situations. According to Lim, the refugee status ensures that law-abiding beneficiaries can enjoy services in the host country. 