Attachments
KEY FINDINGS
• Putumayo faces a disproportionate risk of severe health impacts and humanitarian consequences in comparison to other departments in Colombia because of a combination of environmental, structural, and conflict-related factors.
• The middle and lower regions of Putumayo feature favourable environmental conditions for mosquito proliferation, including high temperatures, prolonged rainy seasons, and widespread water stagnation (Gobernación Putumayo 11/2023; KII 20/01/2025). These preexisting conditions can further intensify with climate change and La Niña (FAO 2022; 3iS et al. 25/04/2024; DANE 24/04/2024).
• Widespread water contamination and inadequate sanitation infrastructure, particularly in informal settlements and rural areas, create ideal breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (REACH 09/08/2024 a and 09/08/2024 b).
• Insufficient vaccination coverage against yellow fever in adults leaves a significant portion of the population highly vulnerable to severe outbreaks (Salud Putumayo unpublished).
• Weak disease surveillance and response systems delay early detection and containment efforts (Salud Putumayo unpublished).
• The health system is fragile and overstretched, with limited hospital capacity, a shortage of medical personnel, and frequent service disruptions, particularly in middle and lower Putumayo (Gobernación Putumayo 11/2023).
• High levels of human mobility, including seasonal labour movement and cross-border migration, hinder disease-tracking and facilitate the spread of VBDs by increasing the risk of exposure (Mongabay 24/07/2024; SINCHI 2022).
• The presence of non-state armed groups (NSAGs) leads to mobility restrictions, confinements, security threats, and barriers to accessing healthcare, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities (OCHA 03/02/2025).