The conflict between ELN and dissidents aggravates the crisis in Catatumbo: communities face famine.
The armed conflict in Catatumbo has triggered a serious humanitarian crisis. More than 85,000 people have been displaced since January and 163 homicides have been reported, including ten minors
The continuity of the war in Catatumbo continues to generate multiple effects on the peasant and civilian communities that are in the middle of the armed confrontation waged by the ELN and the FARC dissidents.
According to the latest report from the Unified Command Post, 85,079 people have been displaced since last January 16which began the armed offensive of the ELN against the FARC dissidents. 163 homicides have been recorded, of which 144 correspond to members of the community and ten to minors.
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This scenario has intensified in recent months. To the point that in the Catatumbo region, problems have been made known such as the impact on the production chain of the food distribution department.
Human rights defenders in the Catatumbo area assure that dozens of people located in various parts of the region are suffering from ‘famine’ in the midst of a food crisiscaused by the pressure that armed groups that are in conflict are exerting.
“The humanitarian commission that was in Catatumbo was able to verify that humanitarian aid has not been delivered for months to the population; They are in a situation of famine, because they have difficulty developing their productive activities on their farms, because they are mined, which is affecting them greatly,” said Judith Maldonado, human rights defender in the department.
Furthermore, they have denounced that there are areas of Catatumbo where, in the ten months of confrontation, the government has failed to serve the community.
“Today, after so many months, the national government, the institutions have not reached many areas of Catatumbo to provide humanitarian aid, nor statements from victims. Unfortunately, There are dozens of people willing to testify, but the process has not been developed. That is why we ask the public ministry to bring forward days to take statements in the area.”
From the area, They launch an SOS to address such a complex situation which puts thousands of people at risk, who are in the middle of the war between the ELN and the FARC dissidents.
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For his part, Enrique Pertúz, president of the departmental network of human rights defenders, stated that Immediate intervention by the National Government is necessary so that a solution is found to this situation that occurs in Catatumbo and that affects the peasant and civil communities.
Source: Integrated Information System
