Humanitarian situation

Border displacement to Ecuador

Within the last two weeks, the intensification of armed confrontations in the border between Putumayo department and Ecuador has caused a progressive mass displacement towards the neighboring country.

According to the Jesuit Refugee Service in Ecuador, displacements began in the village of Teteyé, where clashes between the Army and FARC have increased in the last days. JRS reports that nearly 150 Colombian citizens arrived in the towns of Lago Agrio, y Puerto el Carmen in Ecuador, and even to the cities of Guayaquil and Quito. A few weeks ago (April 21), the community of Teteyé summoned a Public Audience to denounce their critical situation triggered by clashes within their territory, coca crops' eradication programs, displacements and attacks against their members by illegal armed groups.

According to the source, IDPs are being assisted by Ecuadorian organizations and institutions, however as the displaced population is increasing, resources are becoming scarce. UNHCR is assisting the population.

Mass displacement in Nariño

Since March 9, more than 400 people have been fleeing from armed confrontations sustained in six rural areas of municipality of Policarpa.
Information gathered by OCHA reported that sustained clashes between the Army and FARC, on one hand, and the Army and a new illegal armed group known as 'Nueva Generación', on the other, forced nearly 123 families to displace towards a nearby town within the municipality. According to the local authorities, the main needs are food and non-food items, health and education assistance. So far, IDPs have been assisted by the local government until the emergency humanitarian aid provided by Acción Social and ICRC arrives. The local Ombudsman's Office is undertaking the population's census and Acción Social and Nariño department's representatives are assessing the situation. IRC undertook a needs assessment on education in order to provide assistance. UNHCR and OCHA are currently in the municipality and ICRC arrived on May 14.

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