Colombia: Helping newly displaced persons in Antioquia
26-09-2003 News Release 03/116
For the last two weeks, rural areas of San Roque, a small mountain community north-east of Medellín, have been affected by fighting involving four “self-defence” groups.
The fighting has forced large numbers of civilians to flee, and so far over 700 have arrived at the main town of the community. For the time being, they are living in schools, in a sports/concert hall or with family and friends.
ICRC delegates have travelled to the town in order to provide emergency aid. On 24 September, they made an initial distribution of food and other supplies to 735 displaced persons (207 families), including 240 women and 293 children.
In addition to these people, hundreds in various parts of Colombia are having to flee to safer areas every week.
Further information:
Carlos Ríos, ICRC, Bogotá, tel.: ++57 315 340 61 40
Annick Bouvier, ICRC, Geneva, tel.: ++41 22 730 24 58