On August 10, the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project posted on Instagram: “Yesterday we accompanied the Humanitarian Commission of @credhos_paz in Santa Rosa del Sur, after the massive forced displacement of communities in the municipalities of Arenal, Montecristo and Morales (Sur de Bolivar).”

The Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (CREDHOS) has tweeted: “CREDHOS Humanitarian Commission meets with JAC [Juntas de Acción Comunal] presidents and community leaders in the municipality of Santa Rosa del Sur. In the framework of the enforceability of human rights, the documentation of the forced displacement of communities in the municipalities of Arenal, Montecristo and Morales.”

On August 3, Infobae reported: “In Santa Rosa, in southern Bolivar, more than 700 people have arrived displaced from the municipality of Montecristo in recent days, due to constant clashes between illegal armed groups, the department’s security director, Jose Ardila, confirmed in an interview with RCN Radio.”

That article adds: “The Mayor of Santa Rosa, Fabio Morales, in an interview with Blu Radio, said that there would be about 200 families who would have left their homes in fear and anxiety about losing their lives amid the fighting between the ELN [National Liberation Army] and the FARC [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia] dissidents.”

On August 9, Caracol Radio reported that in coordination with the National Victims Unit in Magdalena Medio, the Bolivar Governor’s Office delivered 300 food kits and 500 hygiene kits to the displaced families who arrived in the urban area of Santa Rosa del Sur, fleeing the clashes between the ELN and armed dissidents.

PBI-Colombia has accompanied CREDHOS since 1994.

Please, consider donating to PBI-USA. You can make a safe donation here.

Make a Difference, help protect human rights defenders!

Support our 40th Year Anniversary Campaign by making a donation

2021 is Peace Brigades International’s 40th Year Anniversary! 

Whether human rights defenders fight for social equality, justice, or environmental and indigenous rights, we must protect their vision of the future. For 40 years, PBI has provided protection so defenders can continue their work. With your support, we can ensure that PBI-USA can continue to make space for peace.

Together, we will provide life-saving support to more threatened defenders in urgent need of protection.

Please consider donating to our campaign.