Measuring Commitment to Best Practice
HRI 2008
COLOMBIA
Since 1985, nearly four million people – 10% of Colombia’s population – have been internally displaced. These figures, according to the Consultancy on Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES), make Colombia the country with the second highest number of internally displaced people, after Sudan. The refugees, in this case, are not a consequence of the conflict but rather one more element used by the warring parties. The seriousness of this humanitarian crisis is further complicated by the fact that Colombia is the country with the greatest number of land mine victims. According to data in the Landmine Monitor 2006 report, only one of the country’s departments is not affected by this threat.
The humanitarian crisis
• Displaced population. In the year 2007, there was an increase not only in the number of internally displaced persons but also in the number of towns which people are forced to leave. The provinces of Nariño, Chocó and Arauca registered an increase of over 30% in the number of displaced persons.
• Anti-personnel mines. In the year 2007, 884 accidents caused by anti-personnel mines were recorded, up by 22.4% from the previous year. According to data from the Land Mine Monitor, 60% of the country’s municipalities are under constant threat from these mines.
• Kidnappings. According to the Colombian Ministry of National Defence, the number of kidnappings between 1996 and 2007 totalled 23,356. Of these, 3,100 are still being held captive.
Sources: OCHA, Land Mine Monitor and Ministry of National Defence
Background information on Colombia
• Population (2004): 45 million
• Human Development Index (2005): 75th out of 177 countries
• Gender Related Development Index (2005): 65th out of 177 countries
• GDP per capita (2005): $7,304
• Life expectancy at birth (2000-2005): 72.3 years
• Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (2005): 17
• Undernourished population (2002-2004): 13
• Population not using an improved water source (%) (2004): 7
• Adult literacy rate (%) (1995-2005): 92.8
• Official Development Assistance (2005): -
• Political system: Republic
Source: Human Development Report, 2007
Maps
The humanitarian response
• Donors. In 2007, donor contributions rose to 40,941,809 dollars. The largest donation came from the European Commission (ECHO) with 35.7%; Norway, with 18.5%; the Netherlands, 16.8% and Germany, 12.6%. The sum of these three countries’ donations amounts to 83.6% of the total.
Source: Financial Tracking System, OCHA
More information
• OCHA Humanitarian situation report, May-June 2007. Document with statistical and graphical data and maps showing displaced persons, landmines and levels of violence in Colombia.
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre report, Resisting displacement by combatants and developers: Humanitarian Zones in north-west Colombia 2007. Document offering detailed information on the creation of humanitarian zones in north-west Colombia.
The Colombian crisis in the HRI
DARA is once again studying the humanitarian crisis in Colombia because it continues to generate some of the highest numbers of internal displacements on the planet. The high levels of violence, the kidnapping of civilians and the abundance of landmines further aggravate the humanitarian crisis which Colombians are suffering. The politicisation of a forty-odd year old conflict as well as the country’s geographical situation were also significant factors when including this crisis in the HRI 2008.
Other crises assessed in the HRI 2008