UN warns of catastrophe in Colombia

THE drug-fuelled war in Colombia has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the Western hemisphere, with more than two million forced to flee their homes and several Indian tribes threatened with extinction.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland warned that the situation is getting worse and it is time for the Colombian governmentat all levels, Colombia’s wealthiest citizens, and the international community to do much more to address what he said, “has largely become a forgotten humanitarian crisis.”

“Colombia is the biggest humanitarian problem, human rights problem, the biggest conflict in the Western hemisphere,” he said.

As a result of the 39-year-old civil war, Colombia now has the third-largest number of displaced people in the world, after Congo and Sudan.

The former UN special adviser to Colombia has just returned from a fact-finding mission that included visits to impoverished shanty towns near Bogota and a meeting with President Alvaro Uribe.

He said the crisis is deteriorating because poor Colombians, primarily in rural areas, are being attacked by armed groups on both sides and are forced to flee their homes.

“There are several Indian tribes ... in acute danger of becoming extinct,” warned Mr Egeland.