Colombia
In Colombia, FSD is supporting the socio-economic reintegration of mine and conflict victims through urban vegetable gardens.
FSD assists victims of conflict through the provision of urban vegetable gardens. (Colombia, 2023)
Colombia
Context
Almost six decades of civil war have left Colombia littered with improvised mines and unexploded ordnance.
The 2016 ceasefire agreement between the government and the FARC armed group paved the way for a national mine action strategy. Significant efforts have since been made with several thousands of deminers deployed throughout the country.
While Colombia is now prepared to take full ownership of its mine action strategy, major challenges remain — including difficult terrain, dense vegetation, and a resurgence of armed conflict that continues to cause new contamination and restrict access to affected areas.
More than eight million Colombians remain displaced due to violence, and thousands of mine survivors face significant social and economic challenges. The presence of explosive remnants of war continues to hinder access to farmland and essential services, further exacerbating poverty and limiting opportunities for affected communities.
Families affected by the armed conflict and landmine victims like us, often have difficulties to work in the open field, especially in agricultural tasks.
Jair Riviera
Beneficiary of FSD’s mine victim assistance programme
COLOMBIA
Victim assistance
Timeline
FSD in Colombia
Given the complex political and conflict history in Colombia, the importance of land release is paramount in land restitution efforts and overall peace objectives. A large part of this process involves the clearance of the land of mines and explosive hazards.
In 2016, FSD started providing technical experts to advise and mentor the Colombian National Mine Action Authority. Our experts are specialized in mapping, information management, demining strategy, explosive ordnance clearance, mine detection dogs and mechanical demining.
FSD’s team has also provided input and advice to the national authority (OCCP-AICMA) in the development of national standards in accordance with international standards, but adapted to the national context.
FSD has contributed to protecting the Amazonian forest from the possible negative impacts of mine clearance. In 2017, the organisation participated in the development and adoption of a decree aimed at reducing the environmental impact of humanitarian demining operations when carried out in environmentally protected areas, in particular in natural parks.
In 2023, the Colombia national authority was ready to take over its responsibilities in mine action, and FSD successfully concluded its support to them.
The number of mine victims in Colombia remains very high: more than 12,450 since 1990. In most cases, survivors find themselves unemployed, isolated and sometimes perceived as a burden by society. To address this, FSD launched a socio-economic reintegration project in 2022, in coordination with the Colombian government’s Victims Unit, focused on supporting landmine and conflict victims displaced in Bogotá. Five victim assistance centres across Bogotá, including the Suba and Patio Bonito centres, as well as the Lourdes centre, which supports Afro-Colombian victims of conflict, are now equipped with hydroponic gardens.
FSD’s mine and conflict victim assistance project in Colombia is funded by private donors and foundations.
Stories
News from Colombia
PARTNERSHIPS FOR MINE VICTIMS
Our victim assistance project is developing thanks to new collaborations! Learn more about the income-generating opportunities offered by local communities to mine victims.
URBAN GARDENS IN BOGOTÁ 🌻
To support victims of Colombia’s armed conflict, our teams install hydroponic gardens in host centres in the capital, promoting reintegration and combating food insecurity.
THE NEW LIFE OF JAIR, SURVIVOR OF A MINE ACCIDENT
Discover how Jair was able to find a sustainable income-generating activity compatible with his disability. FSD helps to set up urban gardens to facilitate the socio-economic reintegration of mine victims.
FOR A SAFER WORLD
Fields once littered with remnants of war now provide food, children can play without fear, and communities are rebuilding—discover our work.
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