Thousands of Afro-Caribbean families have been forced from their homes during Colombia’s long conflict. View the Colombia Photo Gallery.

In the rural regions of Colombia the government is in the midst of a 40-year conflict with insurgent and illegal paramilitary groups funded by the drug trade. Although these groups generally lack local popular support, the resulting violence has forced an estimated three million citizens to flee, and has dramatically decreased the ability of the government and the wider world to provide even basic resources and services to the region.

In 2005, IRD conducted a primary assessment of the relief and development needs in Colombia. In March 2006, IRD began a second assessment focused on determining the needs of both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and indigenous populations. The long-term goal is to help communities establish economic independence from the drug trade. In 2008 IRD began program implementation.

Programs
Easing the Pain of Families in Colombia

Contact
Adriana Guinand
Latin America and the Caribbean Region Director
Bogota, Colombia

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