The FARC

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

In the early 2000s the FARC invaded the lands of the Nukak to grow coca. In doing so, the FARC forced the Nukak to leave the forest(Otis). Most of the Nukak sought refuge in San Jose or Aguabonita and have been in refuge for over a decade now("Melendez"). The effects of this change has been immense, affecting the physical and mental wellness of the Nukak.

PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Ever since the Nukak fled the forests, Accíon Social, the government’s aid organization, has been delivering them food rations. However, “sometimes it is not enough," says Sandra, a Nukak mother, and adds their “ bodies are not used to it". The large adjustment in their diet and the poor quantities of food has produced physical problems the Nukak face. Today, much of their population is visibly malnourished and suffers from other illnesses, including influenza, respiratory problems, and diarrhoea(George).

MENTAL WELLNESS

The problems the Nukak in refuge face aren’t exclusively physical, as their declining mental wellness is also noteworthy. Monica, a Nukak women, said "If we stay here much longer,” referring to San Jose del Guaviare, “our people will just die off”(George). Other than just the Nukak, officials have often expressed their thoughts on the situation. Geovanny Gómez, the mayor of San Jose del Guaviare, has voiced that if something isn’t done promptly, this culture could go extinct(“Los nukak desaparecerán si las Farc no los dejan volver a la selva”).

FALSE HOPE

Though the Nukak suffered in refuge for more than a decade, in June, 2016 the Farc signed a peace treaty with the government where they agreed to stop producing cocaine (Watts and Brodzinsky). However, the Nukak are still in refuge today despite the absence of intruders in their lands. Find out why here.