Venezuelans displaced in Colombia denounce crossing the border because their homes were set on fire

Venezuelan families What they fled to Colombia due to clashes between the army led by the armed forces of Venezuela and Colombian irregular groups they denounced that their houses were set on fire and so they had to cross the border.

So he assured the Mediator of the Republic of Colombia, Carlos Camargo, who, this Friday, together with municipal and government authorities, visited the shelters where nearly 4,000 people are being treated who have arrived in Arauquita, population of the Arauca department, bordering Venezuela.

“They told me about the emergency, they were displaced, they left their relatives, where they left their place of residence, their houses were cremated”, Said Camargo.

People have Canoeing across the Arauca river, the natural border between the two countries, carrying bags with the few belongings they could collect during their hasty departure.

A new armed clash took place this Friday afternoon in the state of Apure, on the border with Colombia, amid the conflict that has erupted in recent days between alleged armed dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the Venezuelan Armed Forces which were added FAES, a police group of the regime of Nicolás Maduro which has international complaints for human rights violations.

This was reported by Fundaredes director Javier Tarazona, who explained that the new fight took place in El Ripial.

“At 3:45 pm this Friday, a new armed clash is reported to us in the midst of the FARC, FANB and FAES conflict. The forced displacement of people from La Victoria, Tres Esquinas, Arenales, sector el 8, Guafitas is increasing “said the activist.

That same Friday, the general prosecutor of the regime, Tarek William Saab, reported that an investigation had been ordered into this week’s events in the town of La Victoria, where fighting between guerrillas and the military had generated a series of irregular events.

The headquarters of the Integrated National Service of the Venezuelan Customs and Tax Administration (Seniat) in the entity was attacked with explosives, as was a truck from the Electric Corporation (Corpoelec) which was mobilizing a technical team to restore service. electric.

In addition, around 4,000 people had settled in Colombian territory on Thursday afternoon, as confirmed by Migración Colombia.

In addition, there is an unknown number of deaths as a result of the shootings.

About, relatives of the deceased ensure that the Venezuelan armed forces and the FAES are the subject of false positives, claiming that they were guerrillas to justify the killings of people who were not involved in the events, as published by local media The National.

The Red Cross is at the service of the population

On your side, The Colombian Red Cross is assisting in the Arauquita emergency with a team of 20 people, including doctors, dentists, psychologists, nurses and an epidemiologist.

Among the first actions carried out by the agencies was the support of indigenous populations and migrants in the village of El Vigía. There, 210 consultations were carried out by professionals with 110 indigenous people, as well as discussions on hand washing, crisis management and protection, recreational actions to strengthen mental health, the delivery of medicines and kits for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Igualmente, el personal de Restablecimiento de Contactos entre Familiares (RCF) trabaja para vincular y dar con el paradero de las personas desaparecidas, restablecer el contacto entre familiares, posibilitar el intercambio de mensajes entre familiares y ensarecer suerte de las personas que hano los family ties.

There are 15 shelters for care

The Colombian Mediator assured that to face what he called “a public calamity”, 15 shelters were created to serve the displaced population.

He noted that those arriving from Venezuela have been greeted in Arauquita “in a generous, kind manner” and have “received all the support of national and municipal governments”.

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