Indigenous community confined in western Colombia

In the middle of the jungle in western Colombia, indigenous communities have been living under the shadow of armed conflict for years. In recent months, locals said to NRC that non-state armed groups have been present in their communities, restricting their mobility and using schools to sleep; children are unable to study, it has become a privilege that is difficult for them to access on a regular basis.

"Our indigenous community is surrounded by conflict. People are afraid, they don't go to the bush [to grow crops], they don't go hunting, they don't go to the river to fish. We stay in the house every day, without leaving the community," says Felipe, another resident of the indigenous community.

Daily activities in these communities have changed; farming, fishing, and hunting have been restricted. They cannot easily get their food for fear of encountering armed actors. The use of landmines on roads and crops is a growing concern.

"You can't go out into the bush every day. If you go, you have to run away and you have to run back, because if they [armed actors] find you, they say: 'Where are you going, where are you going? What are you going to do? You go back home,'" says Criselina, an indigenous woman who collects food for her family in the forest.

"I think the conflict is going to increase, because two years ago the presence of armed people was very small, but today more are arriving and the presence is continuous," says Orlando with concern.