HUMANITARIAN BULLETIN ISSUES 47.48 | 15 – 28 November 2010 COLOMBIA

Week 1 Week 2 HUMANITARIAN BULLETIN ISSUES 47.48 | 15 – 28 November 2010 COLOMBIA

Key developments: - Access constraints in Norte de Santander Department - Violence against Awá indigenous People - Civilians in the midst of hostilities in Nariño and Cauca departments - Floods: Government declared National Calamity

Access constraints in Norte de Santander Department

 The strong impact of heavy rains as well as acts of violence from illegal armed groups is jeopardizing the provision of humanitarian assistance in Catatumbo region. Further- more, the FARC declared an armed strike in the area from 22 to 30 November.

An increase in hostilities in Catatumbo region has been widely reported by press sources and the humanitarian community. On 20 November, two incursions on the FARC in the rural area of Tibú left one civilian dead and one more was injured at an illegal checkpoint in- stalled by the guerilla. Simultaneous incursions by the illegal armed group were also reported in the urban areas of San Calixto and Convención municipalities. The same day, alleged units of the FARC dynamited two bridges that connected the municipalities of Tibú and Cú- cuta, across the Sardinata River. The attacks left Catatumbo region isolated from the rest of the Country. On 21 and 22 November, the guerrilla blew up three electricity towers also in Tibú municipality. The electricity was cut off during three days causing food shortages and economic losses. Afterwards, the FARC declared an “armed strike” between 22 and 30 No- vember. Through direct threats and attacks, the armed group aims at restricting the free circulation of civilians and goods in the area. During the strike, there were reports on burn- ing of vehicles and an ambulance held up at a checkpoint for several hours in the rural area of Tibú.

After the announcement of the armed strike, all UN missions to the area were suspended and relief operations by local authorities and first-aid teams were restricted. In Tibú, additional security measures were decreed (a curfew and deployment of Army and Police units in the rural areas). At the time of issue of this report, the armed strike had not been lifted.

In addition to security constraints, access is restricted due to the impact of the current rainy season. Floods, river overflows and landslides have caused major damage to road infrastructure throughout the Catatumbo region. The municipalities most hard hit are Tibú, El Tarra, El Carmen, Teorama and San Calixto. Local communities report food shortages and increases in food prices due to mobility restrictions. According to weather forecasts, heavy rains most likely will continue until January.

As a contingency measure, a helicopter ambulance is being used to move injured and sick people from the Catatumbo region. Also, Venezuelan authorities allowed the crossing of Colombian citizens through their territory on their way to Cúcuta. The Government of Venezuela has offered the construction of a bridge across the Sardinata River. On 2 Decem- ber, UN agencies met with the Governor of Norte de Santander to coordinate the support of humanitarian organizations in the emergency assistance. HUMANITARIAN BULLETIN ISSUES 47.48 | 15 – 28 November 2010 COLOMBIA

Violence against Awá Indigenous People persists

 A series of acts of violence denounced by Awá indigenous authorities in the last month has raised serious concerns among local humanitarian organizations. In spite of the visibility and special measures adopted to address the situation of Awá indigenous people (highlighted by the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People on his visit to Colombia in 2009) pressures against the communities by illegal armed groups persist.

On 7 November, four members of the community were massacred in the rural area of Bar- bacoas, Nariño. A pregnant woman and a member of the indigenous guard were among the victims. Also in Barbacoas, an indigenous man was killed and two more resulted injured during armed confrontations between the Army and illegal armed groups on 14 November. According to the denunciations of the indigenous authorities, an escalation in hostilities within the Awá indigenous territories, particularly in Tumaco, has been registered since Oc- tober. There is a high risk of mass displacement in the area. Meanwhile, the situation of 39 Awa indigenous families displaced in rural Barbacoas since February 2009 (when the FARC massacred 17 Awa indigenous people) is still critical. IDPs are still in need of humanitarian assistance and adequate basic services.

At the request of the Awá people, the local Humanitarian Team of Nariño Department is co- ordinating a Permanent Mission in the Awá Indigenous People Territory as a means of creat- ing effective conditions for the protection of the communities and to prevent further viola- tions of their fundamental rights. The mission also permanently assesses the humanitarian conditions in the reservations and supports the dissemination of the Court Order of 2009 (regarding the protection of fundamental rights of indigenous IDPs) and the “Ethnic Safe- guard Plan” of the Awá People.

20% Events by department and category 15 – 22 November

24 Armed actions 25 Attacks on civilians 47% APM//UXO/IEA Vicitims 20 Attacks on illicit targets Other categories** 14 15 27% 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 4% 2% 6 6 6 5 5 4 5 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 . r r r r a e o e e a a o á a ó a a a a o o a a a t t l r r i í e r e a r C a c c c c y c b ñ i n d . i e e c i m s a a i u l d j d v d o a u u o e t u i i u i r e u l u D l q a a n n n l n a a h

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a e t V r o N HUMANITARIAN BULLETIN ISSUES 47.48 | 15 – 28 November 2010 COLOMBIA

Civilians in the midst of hostilities in the South West

 Hundreds displaced in Nariño Department and an undetermined number were evacuated in Cauca Depart- ment due to hostilities between the Army and the Police and non-state armed groups.

On 27 November, 221 people displaced in the rural area of Leyva municipality (highlands of Nariño Department) following a FARC attack against coca manual eradication groups. Dur- ing the attack two civilians were killed and 7 more resulted injured. IDPs arrived in the urban area and are receiving shelter among relatives and in a public facility set up as shelter. ICRC will provide humanitarian assistance consisting in kitchen and habitat kits for each family (mattresses, mosquito nets, blankets, personal hygiene kits) as well as food pack- ages.

On 28 November, the FARC attacked the Police unit in the urban area of Timbiquí Municipal- ity (Pacific Coast of Cauca Department). No civilian casualties were reported. Clashes left damage to infrastructure and Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) in the area. Local authorities evacuated the areas near the confrontations to deactivate the explosive remnants. There is increasing fear among the population.

Follow-up: Indigenous communities displaced in Timbiquí

Local authorities of the municipalities conducted a mission to verify the conditions for the return of 1,624 Eperara Siapidara indigenous people displaced to the urban area since 2008. According to the mission’s report, further humanitarian assistance and early recovery programs are needed to support the return. Psychosocial assistance and repairs and equip- ment of houses and educational facilities are also among the priorities. On 30 November, the Army confirmed that security conditions are normal for the return. On 2 December the Committee for IDPs Assistance of Cauca Department met to kick-start the institutional ar- rangements for the population’s return. The indigenous community displaced in September

2008 after a series of threats and pressures against members of10% the community. Since the displacement, 12 children died of poor health. 19 20 Armed actions 18 16 Attacks on civilians 16 14 49% 26% 13 APM//UXO/IEA Vicitims 14 11 Attacks on illicit targets 12 10 10 Other categories** 9 10 8 7 8 6 5 5 5 6 4 14% 4 3 3 1%3 3 2 2 1 2 0 0 . r r r r o e e a s a a a a a a a o a o a a á e e i r t l r t a r C a y c c c c a b ñ d . i n i c i e e a s m l d d u i j v a u u o t e u d i i u i r e D u l l u a q a l n l n a a a v d M n a r m S a a q C o o r r a a u o H á a á C i C a t t t a u l d ó t T C N B A t l s G u t n o n g i C n e C u a g a G a A a R d A S S P o

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a e t V r o N HUMANITARIAN BULLETIN ISSUES 47.48 | 15 – 28 November 2010 COLOMBIA

Floods: Government declared National Calamity

According to official figures, the flood affected toll rose to 1.3 million. The most affected departments continue to be Atlántico, Magdalena, Valle del Cauca and Chocó. As reported, Norte de Santander Department has also been hard hit, but information on the overall affectation and primary needs is still not available due to access constraints (see related arti- cle above).

So far the GoC has delivered an estimate of US$ 18 million in emergency aid. The President issued additional administrative measures (National Calamity Decree) that will be used to redirect internal State budget resources. According to the Government’s estimates, $ 650 million are needed to meet the immediate needs and initiate recovery and reconstruction activities. The GoC is currently working on a National Response Plan. The UNETT is coordi- nating 7 rapid needs assessment missions in Sucre, Bolívar, Nariño, Magdalena, Chocó, Ce- sar, Cundinamarca and Cauca Departments. Preliminary results are expected in the forth- coming days. In the meantime, the HC has submitted 4 proposals to the CERF secretariat (RR window) to address most urgent humanitarian needs in the Caribbean Coast, Chocó and La Mojana. The UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT), coordinated by OCHA, is pre- paring a consolidated response plan.

20 – 26 November De- Dam- Affect- Fami- stroyed aged Type of natural disaster Dead Injured Missing ed lies homes homes Flood 2 1 31.814 6.794 8 5.213 Landslide 18 2 2.143 476 13 458 Windstorm 150 30 30 Avalanche 1 20 4 4 Total 20 2 2 34.127 7.304 25 5.701 Cumulative affectation of natural disasters related to the rainy season (start date April 1.368.1 6th 2010) 162 223 19 55 288.637 1.788 233.025 Cumulative this year (all natu- 1.936.2 ral disasters) 169 232 19 28 402.610 1.880 261.419 Source: DPAD (Dirección de Prevención y Atención de Desastres Colombia). Natural emergency tables, available at: http://www.sigpad.gov.co/sigpad/emergencias_detalle.aspx?idn=41. Downloaded 30 November 2010.

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