‘We Can Wait No Longer’ - Afro Colombian and Indigenous communities go to Bogota in an effort to have their basic human rights upheld
Colombia once again experiences a humanitarian disaster with torrential rains causing nearly 1m hectares (3,860 sq miles) of farmland to be flooded. Colombia has experienced abnormal rains over the last two years leading to some of the worst flooding in its history. According to meteorologists last year’s rainy season was seven times heavier than the average. These floods have destroyed farmland and flooded houses, leaving millions homeless. According to the Economist 4 million people have been affected by flooding in the past two years, across 23 of Colombia’s 32 departments.
Communities on the banks of the Bajo Atrato River in Chocó
Some of the flooding could be mitigated according to the afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities of Bajo Atrato. Dredging the river would help to prevent the Rio Atrato bursting its banks and causing devastating flooding in their communities. Despite the many promises received they have yet to see any effective action taken. The flooding due to the build up of sediment blocking the mouths of the rivers affects over 150,000 inhabitants.
Flooding in Choco January 2012
On 19 February 2009 in Quibdó the Colombian government made an agreement to dredge the rivers that were silted up in order to help combat the flooding. Two years later (2011), due to this agreement not having been carried out - 2,300 citizens of the municipality of Rio Sucio took out a citizens legal action (tutela) against the Colombian State -despite winning this legal action - no work has been carried out to date.
On 29 January 2012 twelve chronically undernourished indigenous children were taken to Rio Sucio for emergency medical attention.
Compounding the torrential rains that have caused flooding and displacement in these communities has been a lack of State attention and the delivery of basic humanitarian aid including food and water; creating a humanitarian emergency.
Flooding in Jauary in Chocó
This humanitarian emergency along with the inaction on the part of local and national governments to take adequate long term measures, or respond to a Court order, have forced representatives of the afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities to go - with the support of the Church - to Bogota.
Their requests to the national government of Colombia
To rapidly establish a working group to attend to the Emergency
To ensure that humanitarian aid including food and water immediately reach the Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities of Bajo Atrato.
Ensure that the rivers are dredged
Representatives of the communities of Bajo Atrato, in the municipalities of Bojayá, (Chocó) Vigía del Fuerte, Murindó, Unguia, Carmen del Darien, Riosucio, Acandí, y Turbo, Community Council of la Larga and Tumaradó, Salaquí, Truandó, Cacarica, Jagual, Jiguamandó, Curvaradó, Quiparadó, Community of Pichindé, Peñas Blancas have promised to stay in Bogotá until their requests have been met. Many are partners of ABColombia members and are supported by CAMIZBA and the Church and Parish of Our Lady of Carmen in Riosucio.