ACT Alliance Alert: Threats of war in Indigenous territories in the Northern Cauca, Colombia

Alert  

Colombia

Threats of war in Indigenous territories in the Northern Cauca

Geneva, 27 July 2012

Brief description of the emergency and impact

The increasing military operations of the Colombian public forces in the Northern region of the Department for political and military control of the territory disputed between government forces and the guerrillas of the FARC, has resulted in strong impacts on the civilian population and the Nasa ethnic indigenous people living in this region, which is the ancestral origin of their culture. During the month of July five people have been killed, 54 have been injured, about 2,000 people have been forcibly displaced from their places of origin, about 100 inhabitants have been threatened (since beginning of 2012), about 200 civilian goods and also natural goods for collective use have been affected by the armed conflict in over 29 villages and 4 heads of municipalities, in 7 Indigenous territories (councils, reservations) in Northern Cauca, especially in Caloto, Corinto, Miranda, Toribio and Jambaló. The indigenous reaction is a strong decision to expel all armed actors of their ancestral territories. This decision reactivated paramilitary threats, and the major national media has generated a strong attitude of xenophobia and racism.

Why is an ACT response needed

The magnitude of the events has overwhelmed the response capacity of the organizations, the war actions are increasing and there are not signs to get an agreement between the actors, anticipating a worsening of the humanitarian situation.

National and international response

UN is mediating the dialogue between Indigenous and national government, ICRC is providing food assistance, Médecins sans Frontières and Colombian Red Cross health care and psychosocial support, ACIN (Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca) provides humanitarian and psychosocial support.

ACT Alliance response

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, with its local partner Tierra de Paz, is providing food and non-food kits and contributing with psychosocial support. The forum has a national and international advocacy campaign to protect civilians and indigenous Nasa people.

Planned activities

Protection of threatened leaders and families forced to leave. Attend 1.300 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Caloto, Corinto, Miranda, Toribio and Jambaló, with food, water and sanitation and basic equipment.  An RRF is being formulated.

Constraints

The armed actors are increasing their presence in the region, and there are not signs to leave it.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, ACT Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)