Supporting Conflict-Affected Communities in Colombia  - GOAL Global Skip to content

Supporting Conflict-Affected Communities in Colombia 

 

September 3, 2024 • 2 min read

In northern Colombia, Bolívar and Magdalena are characterised by an abundance of biodiversity and natural resources. The striking landscape, which includes mountains, rivers, and fields of fertile farmland, is also rich in mineral reserves, such as gold. This has made Bolívar and Magdalena hotspots for illegal activity.

Conflict in Colombia 

GOAL is distributing emergency aid to conflict-affected communities in Colombia, with funding from the START Network’s ‘Quick Start’ fund.  

In 2016, a peace agreement’ was signed between the insurgent group Farc and the Colombian government after more than 60 years of violence; however, violence continues to exist in Colombia between various criminal and illegal organisations. Human rights abuses – including murder, kidnapping, and forced confinement – remain commonplace.  

In recent years, thousands of families have been displaced by armed conflict in Colombia. Children are unable to attend school, while farmers are being driven off their land and forced to abandon their livelihoods.  

According to Colombia’s National Victims’ Unit, over 9.75 million people have been impacted by the conflict — 50.2% of whom are women.  

Supporting Conflict-Affected Communities in Colombia 

GOAL is supporting conflict-affected communities in Colombia, alongside a consortium of other humanitarian aid organisations. In the municipality of Morales, Bolívar, GOAL teams distributed 425 food kits to vulnerable communities. 

One community member, Lucas*, said: “Thank you to GOAL and the community for this food. We rarely receive humanitarian aid here, and we are so thankful.” 

GOAL also distributed 385 hygiene kits and 200 first aid kits to meet the immediate needs of conflict-affected populations. “We are very grateful to GOAL for this delivery. It is much needed, and we thank you on behalf of our entire community,” said Grabriel*, a resident of Morales, a small town in Bolívar. 

To reach vulnerable communities in hard-to-reach areas, GOAL also donated 25 housing kits, along with hygiene and kitchen supplies, to the the Development and Peace Corporation of the Middle Magdalena (CDPMM) (Corporación de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio), a local civil society organisation that focuses on peacebuilding and poverty reduction in Middle Magdalena.  

Coordination with Local and National Authorities 

These emergency response activities are part of a larger programme, titled: “Emergency Response to Conflict in Bolívar and Magdalena.” It was carried out in partnership with HelpAge International, Cadena Colombia, World Vision Colombia, Convite, and the PLAN Foundation 

GOAL also receives support from the Colombian government, via the Land Restitution Unit, which ensures coordinated action with both local and national authorities.  

Learn more about GOAL’s work in Colombia.

*The names of individuals in this story have been changed to protect their security.