Present
So far in 2024, the Neiva Peace and Human Rights Secretariat has registered at least 178 complaints from forcibly displaced people. These complaints come from inhabitants of different municipalities of Huila and other departments such as Caquetá and Putumayo, who have abandoned their homes due to pressure exerted by illegal armed groups.
Jorge Lozano Mestre, Secretary of Peace and Human Rights of Neiva, explained that this phenomenon is related to the activity of actors outside the law, including the Second Marquetalia. Lozano explained that there are several early warnings due to the worsening of insecurity in these areas.
The public order situation in Huila and the south of the country continues to be precarious, mainly affecting the rural civilian population. Clashes, forced recruitment of minors and constant threats are some of the reasons that have led these families to move.
The official reported that 55% of the displaced families come from Huila municipalities such as Tello, Baraya, Algeciras, Gigante and Acevedo, while the remaining 45% come from departments such as Caquetá and Putumayo. Lozano also noted that many of these families have fled for fear that their children will be recruited by illegal armed groups.
The Neiva authorities are providing support to these displaced families. The city has a record of 54,000 victims of the armed conflict, reflecting the magnitude of the problem in the region.
The situation in Neiva is a reflection of the forced displacement crisis that affects several regions of the country, exacerbated by the presence and activities of illegal armed groups. The authorities continue to work to offer support and find solutions to this problem that affects thousands of families.
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