The Displaced Ones

When I had learned that there are currently more internally displaced people in Colombia than in any other country, I was very confused. Why don't we hear about that in the news? Darfur has gotten a lot of media coverage, yet we in the U.S. rarely hear about the situation in Colombia. I still don't have answers concerning the ignorance of the U.S.

The situation here in Colombia has been grim for several decades. There has been an internal dispute raging between the liberal and conservative parties, which was fueled by the assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán in 1948. Much blood was shed as a result when 180,000 people were killed and since then there have been waves of tumultuous times, with uprisings in violence. One of the worst times was 16 years ago, when many people were forced off their land. They have been displaced ever since, trying to rebuild their lives from scratch, with few resources to work with.

The churches here in Urabá primarily serve people who are displaced. They were forced off their land 16 years ago, and put into ghettos where they have tried to start over. Very few have been able to find stable work and the ones who can find work are faced with very little job security. We have met many women who are the head of their households after being abandoned, widowed or divorced from their husbands. This presents an extra challenge as they try to support their families with very few options for work.

Listening the stories of these displaced people has been heartbreaking. Many have invited us into our homes, and wind up opening up their hearts to share their stories. We've heard some pretty graphic stories and have sat with people as they cry. One of the frustrating things for us is not being able to do anything for them. Sure, we can become advocates when we return home, but as we sit with them and listen to their stories, we can only offer them words of hope and our comforting presence. At time this feels so futile.