2015 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Colombia, October 2014

KEY HUMANITARIAN ISSUES

Human rights abuses and infraction s to international humanitarian law persist in conflict affected communities that present limited institutional risk assessment, prevention, assistance and response capacities. In remote rural areas , indigenous and Afro - Colombian territories there are limited capacities for integral prevention of and response . Communities in these areas continue to suffer the impact of forced displacement, Gender Based Violence (GBV) , Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGB V), access constraints , use and recruitment of children, occupation of or attacks against schools and other civilian facilities, infractions against medical missions, the presence of mines and explosive remnants of war and gaps in the provision of protection to vulnerable groups. Human rights abuses and IHL infractions are also of increasing concern in urban areas with presence of non - State armed groups, PDAGs and other local armed groups. There is a need to mainstream the centrality of protection in all hu manitarian activities, redouble efforts to overcome critical vulnerabilities and protection risks of affected communities and restore their livelihoods .

1. Limited access to safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene systems . The rural areas most affected by the armed conflict and natural disasters have limited access to safe water and sanitation services . Without proper water and sanitation facilities, there is a substantial risk of water borne diseases and other health consequences. In emergencies, the lack of adequate shelter facilities that comply with international standards , in particular regarding water and sanitation, is of special concern.

2. Weak health care services in rural areas . Rural communities affected by situations of displacement and confinement have insufficient access to health services due to lack of adequate infrastructure, medical supplies/equipment, qualified personnel, access constrains for medical missions and unequal access for ethnic groups and women.

3. Loss and/or deterioration of agricultural and non - agricultural livelihoods and gaps in the provision of timely and adequate food assistance and nutritional support to affected communities .
   There are important gaps in the provision of adequate and timely food assistance in emergency and deterioration of agricultural livelihoods in communities affected by forced displacement and confinement, especially indigenous and Afro - Colombian populations in remote rural areas, and municipalities with limited institutional capacities. Populations affected by the armed conflict, violence and natural disasters face challenges in finding sustainable solutions aimed at overcoming critical vulnerabilities through restoring their livelihoods and productive activities.