US should increase aid to Colombian refugees: NGOs

[Judi Lynn]

US should increase aid to Colombian refugees: NGOs
Friday, 25 March 2011 20:41
Marguerite Cawley

NGO collective Refugee Council USA on Friday called on the international community to do more to assist the hundreds of thousands of Colombian refugees in Panama and Ecuador.

The council, made up of 26 U.S.-based NGOs, stated in a report earlier this week that the United States, NGOs, and other international donor countries need to increase efforts to provide services and change practices towards refugees in the two countries, which host the majority of Colombia's cross-border displaced population.

Shaina Aber, the Associate Advocacy Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, one of the 26 NGOs, told Colombia Reports that the U.S. must "elevate concerns of refugees to a high diplomatic level" especially in Panama, a country which she said has "demonstrated a lack of political will" towards addressing the needs of refugees.

According to Aber, Washington should use the pending free trade agreement with Panama as "leverage" to change government practices towards refugees. The Central American country is estimated to shelter between 100,000 and 200,000 Colombian refugees.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/15159-us-should-increase-aid-to-colombian-refugees-refugee-council-usa.html