memorandum of justification concerning human ... - Just the Facts

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malnourishment, gastrointestinal diseases and tuberculosis. Another five children from
this community had already died during the preceeding weeks from similar
circumstances. On July 16, 2008, another 14 infants and 16 adults were transported to
Quibdó for medical assistance.
Government Outreach to Indigenous Groups
The Colombian government continued to implement the ―Integrated Plan to
Support Indigenous Communities with High Vulnerability and Risk for Disappearance,‖
which was approved by the National Council for Integrated Attention to Displaced
Populations on June 13, 2006. The plan identifies institutional actions needed by all
levels of government to attend to the grave situation facing these populations. During the
certification period, the Colombian government developed two new action plans, one
focused on helping the indigenous communities on the Paujil Reservation in the Iníurida
municipality of the department of Guainía (the Puinaves, Piapocos, Sikuanis, and
Curripacos); and one focused on helping the Amorua community in the Department of
Vichada. The Colombian government also continued work on the 11 action plans
developed during 2007, which focus on assisting groups in Arauca, Valle, Casanare,
César, Risaralda, Guaviare, Córdoba, Guajira, and Chocó. In Arauca, for example,
through the Municipal Committee for the Displaced in Arauca, the government
performed a participatory assessment of the Jitnu community.
The Colombian government also continued its outreach to indigenous communities
identified as ―high-risk‖ through its ―Projects for Communities at Risk‖ program. Since
2004, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the
government has worked with 43 communities at risk, of which 11 are indigenous, to
develop action plans to improve the security of these communities, particularly with
regard to protection of life and liberty. The beneficiary indigenous communities for this
program are located in Tolima, Urabá, the Eje Cafetero, Córdoba, and Bajo Putumayo.
In each of these communities, a risk evaluation diagnostic has been conducted that
describes the specific threats faced due to the armed conflict, the vulnerabilities of each
community, and strategies for addressing them. The program also developed action plans
for coordinating with municipal authorities to mitigate risks faced by each community.
The Colombian government continued the disbursement and implementation of the
―Guidelines on Attention to Indigenous Populations with a Differential Focus,‖ through
meetings of representatives of the National System for Attention to and the Prevention of
Displacement (SNAIPD), both at the regional and national level, from the Department of
Santander, Antioquia, Putumayo, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Chocó, Nariño, Arauca,
Caquetá, as well as NGO representatives and regional-level organizations. These
representatives developed Departmental Unique Integral Plans (PIUs) focused on ethnic
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