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STORY: COLOMBIA / DISPLACED REPARATIONS
TRT: 02:07
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICITONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR
LANGUAGE: SPANISH / NATS
DATELINE: 01 JULY 2016, CUCUTA, COLOMBIA
1. Various shots, Hernando digging a hole
2. Various shots, Hernando’s wife and sister-in-law digging
3. Various shots, Hernando digging
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Hernando Becerra, Displaced Colombian:
“Now it is legal. We have papers. This is a benefit for our family because we don’t have to pay rent and we have money for other things.”
5. Wide shot, Hernando’s property
6. Med shot, children in the rented house
7. Close up, little boy
8. Wide shot, Victims Unit Reparation Centre
9. Med shot, people in the waiting area
10. Close up, women and a baby in the waiting area
11. Close up, shot of Lucelly Taborda
12. Wide shot, Lucelly
13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lucelly Taborda, Displaced Colombian:
“I lost my farm, my crops and cows. They took it all. It’s really difficult for things to be like before. They will never be.”
14. Med shot, displaced at registration desk
15. Close up, displaced person speaking of a clerk
16. Med shot, woman at desk
17. Close up, same woman
18. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lucelly Taborda, Displaced Colombian:
“You never recover from what they (the guerillas) took away from you.”
19. Wide shot, Hernando’s family outside their rented house’
20. Med shot, Hernando sitting
21. Med shot, the family
22. Wide shot, the family
23. Close up, little girl
Colombia reached a ceasefire agreement last month with FARC rebels, seen as a significant step toward ending over 50 years of conflict. For the nearly 7 million Colombians displaced by war, reparation and support is essential to rebuilding their lives.
Hernando Becerra is hard at work, digging foundation holes for his future house. His wife and sister-in-law are helping.
Hernando was displaced 15 years ago. He eventually settled in Manuela Beltran, in northeastern Colombia.
The family is among the nearly 7 million people displaced by the years of conflict. For him starting over meant legally owning a piece of land.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Hernando Becerra, Displaced Colombian:
“Now it is legal. We have papers. This is a benefit for our family because we don’t have to pay rent and we have money for other things.”
A mix of locals and displaced families co-exist in this small community.
A recent government initiative supported by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has helped 60 percent of the residents become homeowners. It also brought them running water and electricity.
The Victims’ Unit Reparation Centre in nearby Cucuta sees hundreds of victims of Colombia’s 50 year conflict. Almost all have similar needs.
Victims like Lucelly Taborda. Seven years ago, her husband was murdered. She fled with her two sons.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lucelly Taborda, Displaced Colombian:
“I lost my farm, my crops and cows. They took it all. It’s really difficult for things to be like before. They will never be.”
The displaced are registered here as victims of the conflict. They also sign for housing, humanitarian and educational assistance. Often it’s not enough.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lucelly Taborda, Displaced Colombian:
“You never recover from what they (the guerillas) took away from you.”
The success of the local integration programme in Manuela Beltran is a model. One that could to be duplicated across the country.
But only if peace holds and the displaced are helped in rural and urban areas.
Hernando says his house should be finished in three months. Then, with a home for his family, the next challenge will be to find work.
