Humanitarian Bulletin Colombia Issue 05 | 01 - 31 May 2012
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Humanitarian Bulletin Colombia Issue 05 | 01 - 31 May 2012 In this issue Over 1,500 massively displaced in May P.1 HIGHLIGHTS Civilians suffer the impact of hostilities P.2 • UN Special Representaive Violence hinders access to education P.3 on sexual violence in conflict visits Colombia. Increase in volcanic activity P.5 OCHA / Margarita Palacios • Number of people massively displaced drops in May but new areas were affected. UN Special Representative addresses sexual • Civilians are victims of grave violence in Colombia´s armed conflict violations in the middle of hostilities. Children are the Persistence of SGBV as a war weapon and impunity are the main challenges most affected. In Colombia, sexual and gender-based violence is perpetrated in the context of the armed conflict. Due to a lack of data, the magnitude of the problem has not yet been • Rainfall levels decrease in documented. Many victims fail to report abuse for fear of retaliation or due to limited most part of the Country. capacities of State institutions. Of particular concern is the lack of an adequate system to Nevado del Ruiz and Galeras protect victims. Greater prevention efforts, better assistance and ending impunity are re- volcanos are in activity. quired to address widespread SGBV and the suffering of victims. These were among the main conclusions and recommendations of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Margot Wallström, during a 16 to 20 May visit to Colombia. The FIGURES SRSG met with senior Colombian authorities, civil society organizations, representatives People mas- of ethnic groups, victims and ex-combatants. Afro-Colombian and indigenous groups sively displaced 12,100 called the attention of Ms. Wallström regarding the high vulnerability of women in their in 2012 (est.) communities. Women killed/ injured by APM/ 17 UXO in 2012 Women and girls are frequent victims of violence Land restitution Five women were killed in various municipalities during the reporting period. One of requests (by 14,719 these killings triggered a mass displacement in Antioquia department (see Displace- May) ment section below). According to local sources, at least 66 women have been killed in Antioquia department in 2012. Also in Antioquia, a case of sexual exploitation of children by post-demobilization armed groups was reported in May. Local organizations in Cauca department have also raised awareness of increased violence against women in recent years. In Valle del Cauca and Cauca, three women were killed by an APM, raising the total number of female victims in 2012 to 19.1 Forced displacement Over 1,500 people displaced in nine mass events At least nine mass displacements were recorded in May, affecting over 1,500 people. Compared to April, the number of affected people dropped by 50 per cent. In all cases, IDPs left rural areas or small urban centres and sought safe haven in urban and densely populated areas. Hostilities continue to be the main cause of mass displacement (78 per cent of the events). Selective killings and mine risk also triggered mass displace- ments. Small scale displacements -fewer than 50 people- were reported in Antioquia and Bolívar departments, both related with threats by post-demobilization armed groups. Cauca department continues as the most affected with at least 680 IDPs in two munici- palities (Miranda and Guapi). Despite the grave impact of armed hostilities in the depart- ment, clashes continue and civilans remain at risk (see Protection of Civilians section below). 1 Official data reports 13 girls and 4 women victims of APM/UXO between January and April. Source:PAICMA . Colombia Humanitarian Bulletin | 2 Hostilities trigger displacements in Despite the grave coca eradication areas impact that armed In Nariño department, hostilities and hostilities have al- landmine contamination continue to forcibly displace civilians. In May, ready caused in Cauca around 600 people were displaced department, clashes in Roberto Payán municipality (for continue and civilians more information see OCHA Situa- remain at risk. tion Reports in Spanish). In this area, the FARC is targeting police units that escort civilians involved in manual eradication of coca crops. In Norte de Santander, non-State armed actors attacked a police escort of manual eradicators, leaving seven policemen killed and 16 injured. Nearly 13 families were displaced towards Cúcuta (depart- mental capital) following the attack. In Putumayo department, more than 80 IDPs arrived in a rural village fleeing from clashes and mine risk in eradica- tion areas. In the same area, a 4-year- Department # IDPs # events old boy and his grandmother were killed 1. Cauca 685 3 2. Nariño 420 1 by an anti-personnel mine (APM). 3. Risaralda 150 1 4. Putumayo 84 1 Worsening security conditions trig- 5. Antioquia 75 1 ger new mass displacements 6. Caqueta 65 1 In northern and north east of Antioquia 7. Norte de Santander 65 1 department, Caquetá and Risaralda departments, mass displacements are Figure 1: People displaced in mass events, May an indicator of the deteriorating security conditions. In Risaralda, indigenous people fled their homes out of fear of clashes between the Army and non-State armed groups. At least 150 indigenous people arrived in a remote area bordering Chocó department. Ongo- ing hostilities in the area -considered strategic by non-State armed groups- and the impact of the past two rainy seasons have increased the vulnerabilities of indigenous people living on 32 reservations.2 In Antioquia department, more than 30 people were displaced in the rural area of Segovia and Remedios municipalities -north of Antioquia department- due to acts of vio- lence and threats by post-demobilization armed groups active in the region. Among the IDPs were 10 teachers from Remedios who were forced to abandon their posts in a rural school. In Toledo, 23 people were displaced due to the killing of a woman, allegedly by the FARC. In Ca- quetá department, hostilities between the Army and the FARC triggered the displacement of at least 21 families (100 people) towards the urban seats of El Doncello and Florencia munici- palities. There are reports of increasing hostilities and attacks on civilians in the department that could trigger further displacements. Response continues, but some gaps remain uncovered Local and national authorities have activated response mechanisms through local Committees for Transitional Justice in most of the areas affected by mass displacements. However, follow- up mechanisms and prevention measures are still a challenge for local and national authori- ties. Local Humanitarian Teams have identified an increasing number of displacements that end up in spontaneous and unaccompanied returns in spite of unresolved risks. The main gaps in the response to mass displacements in May were psychosocial assistance, WASH and adequate temporary shelter. In Cauca and Nariño, intermittent displacements have caused the abandonment of staple crops thus affecting indigenous and rural communities’ livelihoods. 2 Communal lands anciently inhabited by indigenous groups that count with legal protection by the Colombian Constitution. www.colombiassh.org | www.unocha.org United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) • Coordination Saves Lives Colombia Humanitarian Bulletin | 3 In some areas of Antio- In some areas of Cauca, Nariño and Antioquia, classes and social welfare programmes for quia, Cauca, La Gua- children under five years old were temporarily suspended due to threats against teachers and the use of schools as shelters. Structural gaps in the health system and poor access jira, Nariño and Norte to safe water hindered emergency assistance for IDPs Nariño, Norte de Santander and the de Santander, classes Pacific coast. and social welfare pro- grammes for children Humanitarian partners are strengthening coordinated emergency response capacities through training initiatives and are setting up a rapid response mechanisms to complement under five years old the State´s response when and where needed. In northern Cauca, indigenous organizations were temporarily sus- have implemented response protocols, supported by humanitarian organizations. pended due to threats against teachers, Protection of civilians ongoing hostilities and the use of schools as Civilians are victims of grave violations amid of hostilities Grave violations against civilians during hostilities were reported in May in at least eight shelters. departments: Cauca, Caquetá, Putumayo, Bolívar, Norte de Santander, Meta, Arauca and Antioquia. Violations include civilian casualties, occupation of schools, forced displacement, mobility restrictions, forced recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and temporary suspension of school classes. As compared to April, hostilities are on the rise. One civilian was killed and at least 27 (including a child) were injured during clashes or attacks on mili- tary units by non-State armed groups. Children at high risk in rural and urban areas Forced recruitment of children and adolescents by non-State armed groups was denounced in May by child welfare authorities in the departments of Bolívar, Casanare, Córdoba, Meta and Putumayo. Reported incidents recorded by OCHA increased by 150 per cent over April. One indicator of the scope of ongoing recruitment remains the number of children captured or injured in the context of military operations. The situation of children in Putumayo is par- ticularly concerning, as non-State armed are