Colombia: some humanitarian problems increase in forgotten areas

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The International Committee of the Red Cross Colombia delegation has published their annual report analysing the humanitarian situation in the country and the response of the ICRC.

In 2011, the delegation recorded an increase in some humanitarian problems such as forced displacement, threats, sexual violence, infractions to the norms which protect health care staff, and damage to private or public civilian property. Most of these cases were recorded in remotes areas in the country.    

The ICRC reminds all parties to the conflict of the importance to respect and strictly apply humanitarian rules.  Jordi Raich, Head of ICRC Colombia delegation explains: "The main concern of the ICRC is the continuation of the internal armed conflict and the humanitarian consequences such as the destruction of private property , increased displacement, and attacks and threats to medical staff."

Raich continues: "Many of these humanitarian consequences of conflict happen in what we call the "other Colombia"….rural Colombia, far away, places difficult to access, difficult to arrive to, and also there is another Colombia within our cities in, which suffer also the consequences of violence."

"In this other Colombia," says Raich, "it is not only the direct consequences of conflict. It is also because of the remoteness, the difficulty they have to access basic services like health and education.  These remote villages can be very basic and very precarious, and when they need help outside is very difficult for them to get out of the places, and send the children to school or send the loved ones or the child to hospital for treatment"

In 2011, the ICRC continued putting into place a wide range of activities to assist and protect the population.  All together 150,000 people benefited directly from these activities such as providing emergency assistance to newly displaced people, rebuilding infrastructure in schools, or in hospitals, to visiting those deprived of liberty in prisons or facilitating liberations of persons detained in relation to the conflict.  Furthermore, there have been hundreds of thousands who have benefited indirectly from ICRC activities.

Soundbites

 Jordi Raich, Head of Colombia delegation, ICRC:

0:00 The main concern of the ICRC is the continuation of the internal armed conflict and the increase of some of the humanitarian consequences on the civil population of this armed conflict. Some examples of this increase include the destruction of private property or the civilian infrastructure, increased displacement, and the attacks and threats against medical personnel.

0:24 Many of these humanitarian consequences of conflict are happen in what we call the other Colombia, and by the other Colombia we understand on the one hand the rural Colombia, far away, places difficult to access, difficult to arrive to, and also there is another Colombia within our cities in neighborhoods that are also threatened, which suffer also the consequences of violence, and are also isolated in the own cities where we live.

00:51 in this other Colombia is not only the direct consequences of conflict; it is also because of this remoteness, the difficult access that they have to basic services, basic services like health, education, the services in these remote villages can be very basic and very precarious, and when they need help outside is very difficult for them to get out of the places, and send the children to school or send the loved ones or the child to hospital for treatment.  

1:21 In 2011, the ICRC has continued putting into place, implementing the wide radio of activities for assisting and protecting population, all together 150.000 persons benefited from the ICRC activities; those are direct beneficiaries, of course there are hundred of thousand of indirect beneficiaries of ICRC work all over the country.  As I said before, there are many different activities that the ICRC carries out, it goes from providing emergency assistance to newly displaced people, to rebuilding infrastructure in schools, or in hospitals or in health centers, up to visiting person deprive of liberty in prisons or facilitate liberations of persons detained in relation to the conflict.  

END 02:15

Shotlist video three

Rio Caguan, Colombia
0:00 Various of ICRC boats
0:22 ICRC team arrive in village with mobile health clinic
0:33 ICRC mobile health clinic and various of medical team providing treatment to people
1:46 ICRC boat leaving

Unspecified town in south west Colombia
1:55 Various of couple walking in streets
2:23 Couple entering hospital
2:35  Various of woman's check up with doctor
3:16 Couple arrive at ICRC centre where other displaced people queuing and receiving household items from ICRC
3:47 Various of couple in supermarket and buying food with ICRC vouchers

Narino Region, Colombia
4:37 GVs of mountains
4:49  Various of woman receiving pigs from ICRC
5:05 Boy and man bringing pigs into a back garden
5:31 Various of Santa Cruz village
5:37 END