Colombia for Heath Services - Action Against Hunger 2008

Over forty years of violence in Colombia has resulted in an estimated three million displaced people and rising numbers of Colombians fleeing to neighbouring countries. While there has been an improvement in the country's overall level of security since 2000 violence between different armed groups in the southwestern region of the country has increased significantly over the past year. This rise in armed confrontations has largely been due to the government's renewed efforts to eradicate coca crops resulting in a rise in the number of displacements. This increasing number of internally displaced persons points to an urgent humanitarian programming gap to meet the basic needs of the internally displaced including water and sanitation. CIDA's contribution to Action Against Hunger contributes to meeting the emergency water and sanitation needs of an estimated 7 200 beneficiaries in the South Western region of Colombia. This aims to be achieved through activities such as the rehabilitation and construction of water supply points distribution of water tanks water treatment and the construction and /or rehabilitation of latrines.