Colombia: Complex humanitarian situation in Arauca

[Judi Lynn]

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Arauca – i.e. how difficult it has become for the civilian population to meet their essential needs – and how it is affecting the infrastructure civilians rely on, such as housing and health-care facilities in both urban and rural areas.

02 FEBRUARY 2022 COLOMBIA

Since the beginning of the year, armed confrontations have been on the rise, further complicating an already complex web of armed conflict and other violence in the department. As a result, some communities have become cut off and many people have been forced to flee their homes or suffered other effects.

The ICRC, which has been working in the department for nearly three decades through its office in Saravena, has been in dialogue with those who have been affected in urban and rural communities to hear what they need.

Based on that information, we have provided support in the most affected areas of Saravena, Arauquita, Tame and Fortul: 329 people from 75 families received food and hygiene items, and 11 mostly rural health-care facilities received medical supplies for treating the wounded. We continue to monitor the changes in the situation and communities' needs.

We have also been helping in other ways. We have been assessing the damage to infrastructure to see how we can best support the efforts to rebuild. We plan to raise people's awareness of the risks of unexploded ordnance and train them how to protect themselves.

More:
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/colombia-complex-humanitarian-situation-arauca