“For me and the local community, the demining carried out by ӣɬ has been very important because these explosive devices intimidate you and make you afraid to work the land.” Arcadio Morales, President of the Junta de Accion Comunal of the vereda Las Tapias
During the last five decades, illegal armed groups in Colombia have engaged in conflict with the government. Improvised explosive devices (classified as landmines in Colombia) have been laid throughout rural areas, devastating local communities. There have been over 11,500 mine victims since 1990 and in many areas, families live in fear of using their own land—terrified explosives remain buried beneath the earth.
For the past year, ӣɬ has been working in Zone 2 of the municipality of Chaparral in the department of Tolima, a region of spectacular mountains and valleys where agriculture, including coffee production, is central to the way of life. ӣɬ has surveyed 58 sectors in Zone 2, working hand-in-hand with local communities to ascertain whether mines are present. Last week we were able to hand over 728 hectares of land declared free from the threat of explosives, bringing security to 1,850 people.
Arcadio Morales is President of the Junta de Accion Comunal of the vereda Las Tapias. He has lived here since childhood and for the past thirty years worked in the sugar cane fields and farmed cattle. He described the impact the conflict has had on the area.
“The conflict affected us in different ways. Several years ago, many were impacted by explosive devices, for example in Quebrada La Guayabita there was a device that exploded, killing and injuring people.” Arcadio Morales
This left people fearful to use the land, but now ӣɬ have completed survey work and confirmed the area is safe, their confidence has returned.
“Now we will continue to work the land, we campesinos live from the land, from agriculture and it is important for us and our animals that we can walk free from the fear of mines and without the risk of accidents.” Arcadio Morales
Teaching people what to do if they discover dangerous explosive items is also an important part of ӣɬ’s work in Colombia. In Zone 2 of Chaparral we carried out 36 mine risk education workshops as part of our Creando Entornos Seguros (Creating Safe Spaces) media campaign. Participants were introduced to specially designed characters—Ana the deminer and her son, school boy Pablo—learning through games and activities the possible risks and how to stay safe.
In our programmes around the world, ӣɬ train and employ local people to remove the threat posed to their communities by landmines and the explosive debris of war. This creates jobs and opportunities in communities where unemployment levels are often high. During our work in Tolima, 42 people from Chaparral were employed, 55% of whom were women. Arcadio Morales’ daughter, Claudia, is one of ӣɬ’s employees, beginning as a deminer before being promoted to become the Handover Officer for Tolima.
“As a father, I feel very proud that my daughter is working in an organisation of civilian humanitarian demining. She started as a deminer and, thanks to God, she has succeeded and now she is the Handover Officer in the location.” Arcadio Morales
The handover ceremony was a time of celebration for residents as the fear they have lived with for so many years was finally lifted. It was also an opportunity to thank ӣɬ’s supporters, including the Իٳ Ի who funded the project in Tolima.
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