“Every major city in Colombia has neighbourhoods full of people forced out of their homes by armed groups”, said Jennifer Friedlin, co-creator of the documentary, Las Desplazadas (the displaced). Over 10 per cent of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world live in Colombia, accounting for the second largest number of IDPs, next to Sudan. The conflict in this Latin American country has raged over the last half century, with different forces vying for power and competing against the Government for control of the State, most of which are funded through illicit drug trade.
On 30 September 2005, some prominent figures came to UN Headquarters for the presentation of a clip of the documentary to show their support. According to Victor Arango, United Nations Development Programme’s Communications Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean Region, at least 3.5 million people are displaced within Colombia, who by an overwhelming majority are afro-Colombian and indigenous peoples. He also stated that the country’s “Plan Patriota” had led to an increase in IDPs by allowing the spraying of fields assumed to be under cocoa cultivation. Although the fumes were supposedly harmless to humans, witnesses stated that the spraying had damaging effects on the population, which contributed to further displacement through the destruction of crops.
Las Deplazadas, which is yet to be completed, focuses on the work of Sister Albastela in the Aguablanca neighbourhood of Cali, a place that has “grown to 700,000”, stated Maria Eugenia Garcés Campagna, who has worked for years with her. The displaced people, most of them women and children, whose husbands and fathers were killed due to guerrilla activities in the country, arrive in Aguablanca, or in any of the many shanty towns on the edges of Colombia’s major cities, with nothing and unfortunately many of them have no knowledge of urban life. “These families don’t know how to live in cities”, Sister Albastela said. “They only know how to cultivate land.” Almost all the time the new arrivals need help. “We can only offer temporary help and aid. … Often times, we don’t know where to get enough food for everyone”, she continued. “The Government doesn’t have the resources to help.” There are many like Sister Albastela who risk their lives to help the IDPs; however, the continuing internal conflicts prevent the displaced from returning to their homes.
There are programmes in place to help the IDPs, but they are insufficient. UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland expressed hope that “our programme can be stronger and there will be justice for the displaced in Colombia”.
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