Colombia

Humanitarian Situation

On 27 August 2012, the Government of Colombia officially announced the resumption of peace talks with the guerrilla movement Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). Despite this encouraging development, Colombia’s humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Violence by non-state armed groups continues to increase, causing widespread human rights violations, mass displacements and constraints to humanitarian access.

A total of 3.9 million people have been registered as internally displaced persons between 1997 and 2011, with 155,692 newly displaced in 2011. An estimated 40 per cent of the displaced population are children. Displacement is caused by a wide range of factors, including: combats, massacres and threats; the presence of landmines; the recruitment of children and adolescents; sexual violence; and denied access to supplies. An estimated 35,000 people, 53 per cent of whom are women and girls, have been displaced between January and September 2012. The most affected departments are Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo and Chocó, accounting for 79 per cent of total mass displacements. Around 1,000 children have been affected by the suspension of classes. During 2012, 186 civilians, including 54 children, have been victims of antipersonnel landmines and explosive remnants of war of these, 40 died (13 children) and 146 were injured.¹ Restrictions on freedom of movement imposed by the conflict are having a devastating effect on the civilian population in Choco and Putumayo. Rural communities have also been confined to their villages because armed groups have laid landmines in surrounding areas. Access to food and essential medicines has also been blocked, leading to increasing malnutrition levels, particularly in indigenous communities. Armed groups have occupied schools and used them as military bases. Several UN missions were suspended and humanitarian access to the area remains restricted in Cauca, Putumayo and Chocó.

Moreover, some areas of the country with high levels of armed conflict have also been affected by natural disasters, such as in Putumayo, where 95,000 people were affected by the flash floods and 53,000 by a storm.

Following peace talks with the FARC, guerrilla attacks have increased in southern and western regions, highlighting that the implementation and verification processes are likely to be lengthy and complex.

Results from 2012

UNICEF initially appealed for US$6.2 million and reduced the requirements in September 2012 to US$3,400,000, to cover urgent humanitarian needs for children for the remainder of 2012. As at 31 October 2012, UNICEF only received US$565,287 as emergency funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund ‘underfunded window’ in September and US$150,000 under the ‘rapid response window’ in October. UNICEF was able to achieve some significant results in early 2012, despite insufficient funding, owing to the use of re-allocated regular programming resources, drawing resources away from other regular programme components. Insufficient resources combined with high operational costs for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the large expanse of conflict-affected areas resulted in many needs not being met and many targets not being achieved. Access was particularly hindered along the Pacific coast, Colombia’s southern border regions and in the eastern part of the country.

UNICEF supported assistance to affected populations by providing: micronutrient supplements and treatment for 340 malnourished children under 5 in community-based therapeutic programmes; basic health services to prevent and cure diseases to 29,000 people; safe water and sanitation facilities for over 8,123; and education supplies and materials for 22,000 children. In addition, UNICEF is coordinating the work of Education and WASH sectorial groups, and co-leads the food security and nutrition sector. During 2012, UNICEF supported the national government's response to emergencies through a joint UN programme and provided direct care to 118,270 children in coordination with various UN agencies, NGOs and local authorities. Similarly, programmes have been developed and assistance has been provided to prevent the recruitment or use of children by non-state armed forces, as well as reduce the number of accidents resulting from landmines and unexploded ordnances. The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on grave violations against children in the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) is also ongoing.

UNICEF funding requirements for 2013

UNICEF is appealing for US$5 million for humanitarian action in Colombia for 2012. Increased funds will be required to expand the coverage of programmes to prevent the recruitment of children into armed forces and groups, and to support those who have been demobilized. Another major task will be to strengthen the capacity in peacebuilding resolution to respond to the post conflict situation. Emergency assistance is also required for an integrated response for children and their families in the event of natural disasters, including major floods, landslides and droughts. Basic supplies for primary health care, nutrition, education and the provision of safe water supplies, sanitation facilities and hygiene as well as psychosocial support are also urgently needed to uphold children’s rights.