The north Antioquia town of Ituango is ringing alarms, because it is not able to cope with the increasing number of displaced seeking refuge in the town from fighting in surrounding villages.
The north Antioquia town of Ituango says it is expecting another 600 people who are on the run from violence in the region.
In an interview with newspaper El Colombiano, mayor Carlos Mario Gallo Machado said he is expecting hundreds of families to join the 250 displaced that came to Ituango over the past two weeks. The municipality is now housing some 800 refugees.
Gallo Machado asks federal help to deal with the displaced, saying his municipality is unable to cope with such large numbers of refugees.
“We do not have the resources to attend the 800 people we now have housed in educational institutions. We need the support of Accion Social [the Presidency’s refugee agency] and the Government, because this situation is beyond our resources and budget,” the mayor told the newspaper.
According to the refugees, their displacement is due to fighting between government forces and the country’s largest guerrilla group, the FARC.