Human rights defenders warn that the blockade of the ELN could generate a humanitarian crisis with thousands of displaced.
Panoramic of Ríosucio, Chocó (Illustration Image). The department of Chocó is under threat from the announcement of the ELN armed strike
Following the block announced by the ELN in the Department of Chocó For this February 18, Human Rights Defenders in Risaralda warn that this situation could be triggered in another catatumbo, that would leave thousands of people displaced from the border area between those both departments, who would be forced to reach cities of the coffee axis such as Pereira and Dosquebradas.
In context: Eln announced a new 72 -hour armed block in Chocó
The conflict that the Department of Chocó with the presence of the ELN, Dissidencies of the FARC, Gulf clan and the common crime that works for these groups using extortion, causes displacement due to the fear they cause in the population.
Jaime Gutiérrez, human rights defender and president of the National Confederation of Communal Action Boards, warned that the situation is critical in most departments of the country.
“We have seen how eThe department of Chocó is the reflection of what Catatumbo is, many needs, a strategic site for groups outside the law that lends itself geographically for the movements of the illegal economy, Not only gold, and also for drug trafficking, which becomes a very easy route for drug trafficking, it can be another catatumbo, “said Gutierrez.
More news:ELN armed block in Chocó aggravates the humanitarian crisis in the region
Recall that Risaralda and Antioquia are mandatory steps for Chocoanas communities, when there is a blockade by armed groups such as the ELN and the Gulf clan, the most affected are the inhabitants of the indigenous and Afro population settled in the Pan -American Way.
“Blockers have already been many times. The blockades of the National Liberation Army and the blockades of the Gulf clan, today Colombian Gaitanist army, have lived them in the last 10, 15 and 20 years permanently and there has been displacement, yes, but Not massified so much quantity. The ones that move the most are the ones in the Pan -American; In this area of Pueblo Rico towards Chocó there can be about 5,000 people who can move “, Jaime Gutiérrez pointed out.
More news: Medellín authorities fear increased by displaced by ELN armed block announcement in Chocó
Groups outside the law as the dissidents of the FARC and the ELN are transient and are entering and leaving the department of Risaralda Being a strategic area for illegal economies such as narcotic traffic and illegal mining, added the social leader.
Source: Integrated information system
