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humanitarian situation report | N°26
I. SITUATION AND EVENTS
After the displacement of Awa communities from their reservations in rural Tumaco to a nearby school on September 18,
humanitarian organisms reported that the affected population has still not been entirely assisted, and that there are critical WatSan
and housing conditions. During the Local Committee for IDPs Integral Assistance’ meeting on September 19, local and regional
authorities decided to send a health brigade, a mobile unit of ICBF and food aid. UNHCR, present in the area since September 20,
reported critical housing and livelihood conditions as well as the lack of potable water due to the contamination of water sources.
Moreover, the school facility where IDPs are settled has a limited capacity for only 50% of the population and there is only one
doctor to assist them. Consequently, heads of families are having to return to their crops for food, which poses a high risk for them.
Acción Social delivered food aid and issued a communiqué denouncing the situation; ICBF, Pastoral Social, the Ombudsman’s
Office and the local government are assisting the population. UNHCR provided 5 water tanks with a capacity of 2,000 liters. OCHA
is monitoring the situation. On September 24 the IASC Nariño held a meeting in order to assess the situation and define actions.
There are concerns regarding the lack of humanitarian aid in general, as well as for the absence of an ethnic and gender approach
in the assistance. Solidarity International and MSF will visit the affected population on September 25 and 26 respectively. According
to the local ethnic authority UNIPA who will undertake a mission to the besieged communities, nearly 5,000 Awás from 5
reservations are at high risk due to armed confrontations.
On other accounts, after the earthquake that hit the Pacific Coast on September 9, the local Ombudsman’s Office reported that 729
houses were damaged and 50 were destroyed in the urban area; in the rural area 175 houses were damaged and 49 were
destroyed. The Ombudsman requested humanitarian aid for the population, as well as food and non-food items (clothing and
mattresses). Regarding the conflict situation, UNHCR reported that there is still a risk of a mass displacement in the rural areas;
there are strong concerns regarding a food crisis among the population. 150 IDPs that need assistance remain settled in the town.
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humanitarian situation report | N°26
Valle del Cauca” held kidnapped for more than 5 years. Although he said to be supportive of a political negotiation with FARC
and ELN, he said he will not authorise a demilitarised zone on the basis of the precedent experience in El Caguán.
These results were acknowledged by the Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, but said that it would be “false and irresponsible” to
say half the country is at-risk. MOE’s findings indicate FARC threaten elections through extortions, murders and kidnappings in the
departments of Tolima, Antioquia, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Arauca; while “emerging bands” pose hazards in Caldas, Huila,
Caquetá, Casanare, Meta, Norte de Santander, Valle del Cauca, Putumayo, Chocó and Magdalena (see attached map). The study
was revealed in the midst of claims issued by many candidates, including those from the government’s coalition, who say they are
being threatened, kidnapped and murdered by FARC who view them as allies of a “paramilitary government”. In this regard, two
candidates from Tolima were killed last weekend. However, it is worth noting that violence figures are lower than those compared to
parliamentary elections last year and the 2003 local elections.
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