An entire indigenous people were displaced by violence in Nariño

Despite multiple attempts by the authorities, in relation to the prevalence of the rights of indigenous communities, violence again strikes these social niches, since in the department of Nariño, more than 280 indigenous people have been displaced due to the constant clashes between armed groups in this area, precisely in the municipality of Barbacoas, since its rural area is where the AWA indigenous reservation predominates, which has been affected by the conflict for several years.

From the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Colombia (OCHA), they report that since March 2, in the vicinity of the territory of the Pipalta Palbí Yaguapi indigenous reservation, belonging to the AWA people, there have been heavy fighting between Non-State Armed Groups (GANE), which is why nearly 92 families made up of 288 indigenous people, moved from the place, as their lives were in danger because they were completely confined.

It is important to note that all of the families mentioned above correspond to the complete set of this ethnic community, which today is sheltered in the center of Buenavista, under heavy overcrowding conditions, in addition to this, concern is raised by the precariousness in which they find themselves, taking into account the says that different needs arise in the face of the gaps encountered by the UN.

It should be noted that 30% of the displaced are men, 27% are women and there is an alarm about minors, as this corresponds to 43% according to the latest report. In this case, the history of displacement since 2020 indicates that there are already three times when this ethnic group has had to move from its territory, since 2010 the pressure exerted by armed groups directly violates human rights, forming a continuous scourge.

The need arises to take into account the geographical position of Barbacoas, since it is located on the edge of the Telembí River, a tributary that flows into the Patía River and becomes an access point to the Pacific Ocean directly, tracing an important corridor for drug trafficking and illegal operations of armed groups, which with the arrival of men of the ELN and the residual groups of the FARC, the population has been besieged by the fighting, which seeks to expand their presence in search of territorial position.

The main needs that arise from this community are the protection measures that seek to guarantee their territorial rights, by the authorities, taking into account what is being restricted access to services and free mobility in an ancestral collective territory, meaning a precarization of the coexistence in indigenous territories.

In addition to this, problems have been identified in food security, noting that intervention is necessary through the provision of non-perishable food for this community, in addition to the solution to the issue of drinking water and basic sanitation for this community, bearing in mind that the Buenavista populated center does not have aqueduct service, therefore, the sending of toilet kits and the connection of water, are priority.

Likewise, a medical care brigade has been requested for both older adults, pregnant women and minors, being the population most at risk, in addition to this, it seeks to implement an educational improvement that guarantees the process of minors, as well as the improvement of conditions in the shelter where they are located. The municipal administration of Barbacoas has taken steps to provide a diagnosis in which the situation is evaluated, and aid is delivered within the initial requests, in addition to this, the municipal hospital will guarantee the immediate health aspects needed by the displaced.

KEEP READING: