2019
First intervention
8.800
People reached
4
Projects
615.642€
Budget spent
Context
Despite the signing of the Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in 2016, the nation continues to face a complex internal political crisis. In 2023, the country experienced an escalation of conflict between armed groups, leading to an increase in the number of displaced people.
Colombia is home to approximately 2.9 million refugees and migrants, who face difficulties in accessing food, shelter, employment opportunities and access housing assistance. In 2023 alone, almost 250,000 Colombians are internally displaced.
Colombia also suffers from frequent natural disasters. Rivers often overflow during the rainy season.
INTERSOS’ intervention
In 2023, INTERSOS’ intervention focused on ensuring immediate access to protection and primary health care services, including Sexual and Reproductive Health, for people affected by the crisis, both migrants and nationals mainly in Norte de Santander.
More specifically, our team provided general medical consultations and Sexual and Reproductive Health Consultations for pregnant and lactating women (ultrasound, anaemia screening, rapid urine and HIV/syphilis testing) as well as general humanitarian protection services for vulnerable girls, women and boys, including case management and specialised legal and psychological services. Cash assistance was provided to the most vulnerable people to access basic services which require payment of fees. The protection teams in Colombia and Venezuela have been working in close contact throughout the year, managing to carry out binational referrals of particularly vulnerable cases, mainly undocumented minors, between the states of Arauca in Colombia and the state of Apure in Venezuela.
All activities were carried out in a direct and mobile operation modality, to reach out communities and individuals in hard-to-reach, underserved, neglected and marginalised areas. The mobile teams were composed of a General Practitioner, a Gynaecologist or Obstetrician, a Nurse and a Nurse assistant, a Case Manager, a Lawyer and a Psychologist. Our team also worked on preventive measures through awareness-raising sessions on Sexual and Reproductive care, Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection risks.
