Episcopalian Church denounces humanitarian crisis in northwest Colombia
Episcopalian Church denounces humanitarian crisis in northwest Colombia
Jul 9, 2014 posted by Emily Dugdale
Episcopalian Church officials in northwest Colombia are making public calls to draw attention to the deepening human rights crisis facing residents in the region, reported local media Wednesday.
Bishops from the diosceses of the Quibdo, Pretoria, Apartado, and Istmina-Tado municipalities in Choco have united in denouncing the the unchecked violence and lack of public services in the northwestern state.
“In Choco lives a crucial and worrisome situation owing to the frequent violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Julio Hernando Garcia, bishop of Istmina.
Following a trip to the western part of the state, the bishops expressed that basic human rights such as access to education, decent housing, health, and mobility are severely lacking in the region, one of the most impoverished in the country, according to a statement released by the General Assembly of Colombian Bishops.
A document signed by bishops around the country states that Choco classifies as an abandoned state in Colombia, where criminal organizations, narcotrafficking, drug addiction, and sexual assault exert a constant presence, Bogota’s Caracol Radio reports.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/church-denounces-humanitarian-crisis-choco/