Ituango is a city surrounded by valleys, where campesinos - 'peasant farmers' in rural regions - have settled to live a peaceful life away from the violence of the cities. But a close-by internationally funded dam project threatens to flood the valleys, and the government’s initiatives to relocate the campesinos have failed. In a mutual and clandestine agreement with the far-right government, the 'Aguilas Negras'(The Black Eagles), a notorious paramilitary group accredited with many massacres of campesinos over the years, moved into the communities with an ultimatum of 24h to leave and never return or stay and 'disappear'.
4,000 people left their homes and farms in a panic to flee the announced massacre, and the city of Ituango was flooded with refugees.
A week later, we decided to join a small group of campesinos who decided to go back, as the desperation of leaving into the unknown was greater than facing the threat of paramilitary units in the mountains.
Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
Boarding the Chiva (Open Bus) we are met with looks of concern, anguish & sadness.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
Two delegates from the ICRC crossing our path coming from the mountains where the paramilitaries were expected to be.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
Everyone disembarks the Chiva to gather their belongings & hike up to their farms.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
A refugee on his way out of the valley. He says he is ill and did not manage to leave his farm earlier. He will try to make it to the nearest city (Medellín) and will most likely remain on the streets, according to him, since he does not have friends or family there.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
A young family disembarks from the Chiva in the valley.
Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
The military descends from a mountain (where the paramilitary units were expected to be) just shortly after the Chiva arrived.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
The soldiers are passing through the arriving Campesinos, nobody talks to them as they induce anxiety & fear amongst most.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
Campesino passes through to another farm.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
The community leader sings his sorrows into the valley, which is supposed to be flooded by the dam project.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.
What the violence and displacement in Colombia are all about: The Coca Leaf, once sacred, is now illegal.
Valle de Ituango, Colombia,
August, 2021.