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The Displaced in Colombia   RSS
During the past forty years, Colombians have been ravaged by an armed conflict between paramilitary forces and leftist guerrilla groups who have fought for political and economic gains. As a result, 3,000 people are estimated to die every year, and over the decades at least 3 million civilians have been displaced, forced to flee their homes.

The conditions of the displaced are precarious. They often live in impoverished areas with poor access to food, health, education, and housing. Their estimated household income is slightly more than the equivalent of $100 per month. These photographs document some of these conditions, which are very similar to those experienced by the many who live in urban poverty around the world.

These photographs were taken during a trip with colleagues Gonzalo Retamal, Simon Tafoya and Sheila Maak while analyzing education programs for displaced children.
       
Slideshow | Invite
No water
  • 1No water
Bathroom
  • 2Bathroom
"Backyard"
  • 3"Backyard"
Typical kitchen
  • 4Typical kitchen
Streets as playgrounds
  • 5Streets as playgrounds
House of a displaced family
  • 6House of a displaced family
Streets
  • 7Streets
Altos de Cazucá
  • 8Altos de Cazucá
Urban factions control "public" spaces
  • 9Urban factions control "public" …
Pollution
  • 10Pollution
El Campesino!
  • 11El Campesino!
Child-friendly classroom
  • 12Child-friendly classroom
Vida Cotidiana
  • 13Vida Cotidiana