Narco-war in Zacatacas: more than 200 families were displaced by violence in Valparaiso

The drug war in Zacatecas has not only left an atmosphere of terror, people disappeared and executed in the middle of the street, but it has also caused hundreds of families to leave their place of origin to escape this battle between criminal organizations.

According to the mayor of Valparaiso, Eleuterio Ramos Leal, he announced that, so far, 200 families have been forced to leave their homes due to the constant clashes that have occurred in the territory.

In an interview with B15 Zacatecas, the official said that the main communities that have received the displaced have been the municipal seat of Valparaíso, Fresnillo, Aguascalientes and, who had the possibility, the United States .

He also explained that since June 2021, several regions of the municipality, around 17, have been affected by these forced displacements. The first to record this problem, he said, were those located on the border with Nayarit and Durango; later it advanced to the vicinity with Jalisco, although today the peak is located on the border with the territories of Jerez and Monte Escobedo.

Ramos Leal indicated that the families left mainly for two reasons. The first is because of the constant fighting in the vicinity of Valparaiso, even in the streets themselves. He also acknowledged that, as a second cause and especially in small communities, the members of these criminal groups themselves knock on doors and ask people to abandon their patrimony.

Subsequently, the mayor stressed that he has raised his needs during the peace tables organized by the federal government. From these, he said, he has obtained responses from the Army and the National Guard (NG) to send elements that protect communities in order to resume activities and prevent the interference of criminal groups.

However, he stressed that despite constant patrols, both by land and by air, the rivalry between the cartels does not cease, so the crossfire has continued despite support.

“These have been very complex years, of great budgetary tension, of a great shortage of resources. Within this situation, we attend to priorities and of course the displaced have been displaced in these weeks,” said Eleuterio Ramos.

He clarified that the municipal authorities, together with organizations in favor of migrants, have accompanied displaced persons with pantries, clothes, medicines, blankets, cots, stoves, grills, in addition to requesting the population to lend or rent their homes to receive someone who left their home.

When asked specifically about the return of some families, the mayor explained that in most parts of Valparaiso activities have resumed normal activities thanks to the presence of the Army and the NG. However, the communities adjacent to Jerez tried to return, but new clashes motivated them to go out again in search of safety.

The politician called this phenomenon of displacement “catastrophic” because people neglect agriculture and livestock, the main commercial activities of the municipality. In addition to the fact that some people have suffered looting of their homes and workplaces due to abandonment.

Eleuterio Ramos said he only has 54 police officers for the three shifts of the day. He also stressed that there have been no casualties, as they have been urged to be careful in their work to avoid tragedies, since they do not have sufficient conditions to carry out security tasks as they should.

Finally, he reiterated that there have been moments of “frustration” and “despair” for the situation he is experiencing, although the commitment to reversing it is greater, so he said he was ready to take office to try to comply with the requests of the population.

“I have never done it (to have escorts) because then it would be necessary to have escorts for each of the Valparaisans and we are not in that possibility. I am as exposed as any citizen and, of course, doing my job,” he said.

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