April 10, 2007 Appeal #6755

Colombia (Nariño) displacement / food insecurity

April 10, 2007

Recent fighting in southern Colombia between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish) and the Colombian Army in the remote rural area of Rio Tapaje, in the department (province) of Nariño, has in recent weeks forced hundreds of families to leave their villages.

In a statement today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva said that during the past two weeks, more than 6,000 people took refuge in El Charco and La Tola, in the north of Nariño. Local authorities have opened schools and other public places to house the displaced who are fleeing fighting further to the south between the army and an irregular armed group.

"Local authorities, the church and international organizations have joined their efforts to those of the government to provide food and medical attention," said UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond. "Despite their work, there is a shortage of clean water and basic health supplies. Only one out of every 30 persons who arrived in El Charco last week has a mattress to sleep on."

As of Monday (April 9), there remained a total of 3,000 displaced in El Charco, but the figures are constantly changing, Redmond said. "Over the weekend, several hundred families chose to return to their homes, despite uncertainties about security conditions. They returned in boats provided by the local authorities. The rivers are the only means of transportation in this part of the country."

The conflict in Nariño has been intense for over a year, Redmond said.

RESPONSE: The affected area is a region largely inhabited by Afro-Colombians, and since 2004, Church World Service, with the support of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), has worked in the region and supported food security and women's programs - specifically the local grassroots network Asociacion de Mujeres Afro Colombianas por la Vida (AMAV-ASOM).

AMAV's 900 members live in remote communities in Rio Tapaje, Nariño. Some 13,000 live in the area where the violent clashes between the Colombian army and FARC are currently taking place. (The five communities where AMAV works are inhabited by 7,400 people, 47 percent of whom are under 12, according to a census carried out by the communities last February.)

In response to the current situation -- which has limited the ability of residents to purchase uncontaminated food items, gas and medicines -- CWS Colombia has helped expedite a shipment of rice, beans, salt and cooking oil as a well as ten 1,000 liters water tanks and recreational items for children to the affected areas. The delivery of aid was organized and monitored by a six-member team, which included a representative of CWS. The team also conducted an updated needs assessment.

With CWS support, AMAV members have created community and family gardens in each of the communities. These gardens have been severely affected by aerial fumigations against the coca plant (which contaminate soil and water) that took place during the months of February and March -- six fumigations in all.

CWS is seeking support for two shipments, which include the distribution of food items (including rice, beans, cooking oil, canned tuna and other items) as well as 1,000-liter water tanks and 25 health kits.

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, Colombia (Nariño) displacement / food insecurity - Account #6755, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515.

Media Contacts:

Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin (24/7), 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net