Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

NEWSDESK

Ecuador: Colombians arrive fleeing violence
27 Feb 2007 11:53:20 GMT
Source: UNHCR
On Saturday, more than 300 people fleeing violence in southern Colombia crossed the San Juan River and arrived in the small northern Ecuadorian border town of Chical. The group, from the Colombian village of Tallambi, lived on the opposite bank of the river. A large number of Awa indigenous people are among the newcomers.

UNHCR deployed a team of humanitarian workers to Chical on Sunday and is distributing emergency items and food rations in coordination with partner organizations. So far, we have registered 315 people, more than half of them children. Many in the group are still very visibly shocked and scared. They say they fled after an irregular armed group killed the local schoolteacher and threatened other people in Tallambi. Local authorities on the Colombian side of the border report fighting in the area.

The newcomers have been staying with local families in Chical, but the housing capacity of this small community is fast reaching its limit. UNHCR and the local authorities are getting a shelter ready in case more people cross the border in the coming days. According to the new arrivals, many more could be on the way.

The Awa live in their own territory, which spans across Ecuador and Colombia. They have suffered greatly from the increase in violence in the southern Colombian region of Nariño in the past few years. In general, ethnic minorities in Colombia have been disproportionately affected by the conflict.

Last month, a group of some 40 Afro-Colombians arrived in northern Ecuador, also from Nariño. They have asked to remain in Ecuador as they feel it's unsafe to return. UNHCR is coordinating efforts with the national refugee office for a speedy answer to their asylum request.

An estimated 250,000 Colombians are in Ecuador after fleeing the internal armed conflict in Colombia, which has displaced more than 3 million people within the country's borders. There are also an estimated 200,000 Colombians in need of protection in Venezuela.


AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article       Send comments

Topics

•  Refugees & displacement

MORE >>

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.
Reset map

•  Colombia profile
· View map

•  Ecuador profile
· View map

•  Venezuela profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

•  American Jewish World Service Launches National Targeted Divestment Initiative Against Sudan
AJWS - USA

•  WER calls for greater international response to Iraqi refugee crisis
WER - UK

•  Young girl caught up in Sri Lanka conflict tells her story
WV - International

•  Central African Republic faces deteriorating humanitarian situation
WV - USA

•  Zambezi Valley floods displace thousands
Concern Worldwide - Ireland

MORE >>

Latest news

•  Ecuador: Colombians arrive fleeing violence

•  UNHCR launches $6.2 million appeal for internally displaced Chadians

•  INTERVIEW-Concrete ball drop aims to weaken Indonesia mudflow

•  Libyan NGO pledges to support UNHCR in North Africa

•  UNHCR and Danish Refugee Council pledge closer collaboration

MORE >>

Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Tue Feb 27 11:55:50 2007