Colombia

Colombia is home to the world’s longest continuous conflict. Around 7.3 million people have been displaced from their homes over the past 50 years. Many communities are also blighted by natural disasters.

We’ve been working in Colombia since 1991, supporting children with education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation.

Working with schools and communities affected by armed conflict, our child protection teams seek to break the cycle of violence. And by involving children in our advocacy and planning, we also build resilience and give children a voice.

Over 1.7 million Venezuelans fled to Colombia in recent years, fleeing desperate conditions in their homeland. Hospitals had run out of medicine. Children were fainting in class from hunger. Families sold everything they own to leave.

We scaled up child protection programmes in the border regions, protecting children from armed groups and human traffickers.

We also provided school materials and hygiene kits to families who arrived with nothing. And we trained teachers to better support children affected by the crisis.

Our Emergency Health Unit opened a health clinic close to the border. We have provided ante-natal and post-natal care to pregnant mothers, many of whom are under 18. We also provided counselling support to survivors of sexual violence.

Through our Emergency Fund, we can be there for children caught up in forgotten crises, in places like Colombia, where displacement and disease are threatening children’s lives every day.

Page last updated in January 2022.