Colombia

To meet the urgent needs of Colombia's internally displaced population (IDPs), CHF International is working to provide basic humanitarian needs as well as shelter and psychological assistance to those persons fleeing from violence and instability.

"Building Security Where There is No Security."

Journal of Peacebuilding & Development
Cambios que nos Cambian

Cambios que nos Cambian

Experiencias en habitabilidad y construcción, 2001-2006
Youth for Change and Conflict Resolution (YCCR) Brochure

Youth for Change and Conflict Resolution (YCCR) Brochure

Download our latest publication featuring eight stories of hope and personal growth from our YCCR program in Colombia. (Available in both English and Spanish.)
Colombia Brochure (en Espagnol)

Colombia Brochure (en Espagnol)

Comprehensive information on all of our programs in Colombia, in Spanish.
Assisting Displaced Families in Colombia

Assisting Displaced Families in Colombia

Creating a Brighter Future for IDP Families
Colombia

Humanitarian Relief and Long-Term Aid for Displaced Families

 By the Numbers

By April 2006, CHF/Colombia had:

  • distributed 15,705 resettlement kits;
  • provided psychosocial support to 16,700 families;
  • generated 2,000 months of employment and created jobs for 36,000 people;
  • provided 21,000 families with housing subsidies;
  • funded 14,600 business and employment plans;
  • trained 21,000 internally displaced people for employment and small business opportunities;
  • disbursed 15,200 microenterprise loans and 600 home improvement loans; and
  • conducted training for the staff members of 15 NGOs and 11 municipalities.
 
Political violence has torn Colombia apart for more than 40 years, displacing an estimated 3.5 million people. With a staggering 23 million Colombians (55 percent of the population) already living below the poverty line, the last 15 years have seen an escalation of violence that has increased the need for both short-term and longer-term humanitarian and development programs for internally displaced people (IDPs). CHF International began working in Colombia in 2001 to address the immediate issues that were affecting displaced communities. Our programs quickly expanded to include long-term development and rehabilitation.

Our range of programs are supported by the Government of Colombia (Accion Sociale), the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM), and the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID).

Immediate Relief in a Conflict Community:

An estimated 13,000 families are forced to flee from their homes each month due to continuing violence and instability in many parts of Colombia. CHF International is working with several local organizations to provide humanitarian kits, which include food, hygiene products, and basic household items, to those in need for an average of three months of displacement.

In addition, CHF International is providing temporary shelters, implementing a range of community efforts to improve sanitation and water supply sources, and working to strengthen the capacity of non-governmental organizations in Colombia to assist IDPs.

Long-Term Aid and Rehabilitation:

Recognizing that the needs of displaced people go beyond what emergency assistance can provide, CHF International is also working to improve the long-term economic conditions of the displaced communities by:

  • supporting microenterprises; 
  • providing psychosocial support to displaced families;
  • rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by the conflict;
  • conducting vocational and employment training;
  • administering job placement initiatives;
  • providing permanent shelter for long-term displacement;
  • promoting conflict mitigation and prevention; and
  • disbursing microcredit loans for home improvement and small businesses. 

A Holistic Approach:

CHF International is also widely recognized in Colombia for providing much needed psychosocial support to displaced families who have been victimized by years of internal armed conflict. Such support facilitates social and family integration, positively addresses grief, and improves the physical and mental heath of its beneficiaries. CHF International has published several articles on psychosocial support and has written a comprehensive guide to providing such support as part of broader humanitarian assistance efforts.

As always, CHF International works with stakeholders and local municipalities to identify and prioritize the reconstruction projects that will be completed under CHF International's supervision. By involving the beneficiaries, the programs also aim to discourage continued displacement and restore residents’ quality of life.

Download the complete Fact Sheet above.

 

Additional Resources

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