Indigenous migrants in Colombia, particularly the Wayuu community, are struggling as climate change leads to worsening droughts and floods. This situation has forced them into informal settlements lacking basic services like running water and electricity, especially affecting those who fled Venezuela’s economic crisis. Nelly Mengual’s experience exemplifies their hardships and the communal resilience in face of adversity.
In northern Colombia, Indigenous migrants such as Nelly Mengual face escalating challenges from severe weather changes, including droughts and floods. At 47 years old, Nelly recounts a recent flooding incident that destroyed her makeshift home, which is constructed from scrap metal, wood, and plastic tarp. This displacement reflects the ongoing struggles of the Wayuu people, a group native to the La Guajira region that spans Colombia and Venezuela.
Many residents of informal settlements surrounding Riohacha, including numerous Wayuu who have fled Venezuela’s economic turmoil, are severely affected. Though some were born in Colombia, these migrants often lack essential services, such as running water and electricity. The Wayuu people traditionally view their land as encompassing both Colombia and Venezuela, seeing borders as mere political divisions rather than cultural ones.
Nelly, who survives by recycling scrap materials, mourns the loss of her belongings, stating, “This entire hut. Our belongings, what little we had. Everything was lost.” This statement emphasizes the precariousness of their living conditions and the significant hardships faced by Indigenous migrants in Colombia.
The article highlights the severe impact of climate change on Indigenous migrants in Colombia, particularly the Wayuu community. Droughts and floods have exacerbated their living conditions, forcing many into informal settlements devoid of essential services. The way the Wayuu perceive their land shows the complexity of cultural and national boundaries in the face of socio-economic and environmental challenges.
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