15 Oct 2017 | 07:01 AM UTC
Colombia: Disease and violence rates increasing near Venezuelan border
Rates of malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and violence against women increasing along the Colombian-Venezuelan border region
Event
The regional Norte de Santander Departmental Health Institute recently announced that cases of malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and violence against women are increasing near the Colombian-Venezuelan border. Some 11,800 patients of Venezuelan origin have been admitted to regional hospitals since 2015, and treatment for Venezuelan migrants has reportedly cost the Colombian Health Department 600 million Colombian pesos (USD 200,000) as of Friday, October 13. The number of suspected cases of the abovementioned conditions is expected to increase in the coming months as Venezuela's public health infrastructure continues to deteriorate.
Context
Colombian security forces have been unable to secure much of the territory along the Venezuelan border left open by the demobilization of the FARC guerilla group following a peace agreement signed in November 2016. Various criminal and paramilitary groups, such as the EPL, have been expanding into these territories. The EPL's territorial stronghold is located in the Venezuelan border region of Catatumbo and the group has reportedly been running cross-border criminal activities since 2016. Meanwhile, neighboring Venezuela has experienced consistent violent clashes between government forces and anti-government protesters since the beginning of April. Demonstrators are denouncing a wide range of grievances as well as demanding early elections. Venezuela has been devastated by a long series of crises affecting the restive country in recent months and years, including a breakdown of the democratic system, major shortages of gasoline, medications, food, and other basic necessities, an alarming spike in rates of violent crime, massive inflation and economic recession, and a resurgence of disease.
Advice
Individuals are advised to avoid the Colombian-Venezuelan border due to health and security concerns. Many Western governments advise against travel to this zone as well as various other regions in the two countries.
