Colombia’s Wayúu people live on land rich in resources. So why are their children dying of hunger?

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State failures in La Guajira have compounded water shortages that bring malnutrition and death

Noreli Uriana visits her son’s grave, a small concrete block. Wayúu people do not put the names of newborns on graves; the black and white grave with no inscription to the far right is also that of a baby.Noreli Uriana visits her son’s grave, a small concrete block. Wayúu people do not put the names of newborns on graves; the black and white grave with no inscription to the far right is also that of a baby.

This poverty-induced food insecurity often has the greatest impact on the children. Noreli Uriana, Alba Epieyu’s daughter, lost her son three days after he was born. On the same sandy road where Epieyu stood, people from at least five other communities are waiting to receive water, which is delivered by truck. The supply is irregular; today, a water truck passes by without stopping. On its return journey, the driver decides to stop but only fills half a 500-litre tank., 20 litres per person daily is the minimum safe amount of water for drinking and cooking.

They have walked with their animals to the well to slake their thirst and load their donkeys to return home. A collection of logs covers the water and provides a precarious platform from which to access the well. Last year, a community member died after falling into the water.Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development teamthat the state must guarantee basic rights such as water, food and health for Wayúu children.

In Uribia, 20km inland from Manaure, the trucks are now stuck in an army base, without insurance for transit. Added to this, the new UNGRD director,that this type of vehicle is unsuitable for the region, and in any case, the local aqueducts do not have enough water to supply them. These families go to Maicao for food once a month. The transport costs them about 40,000 pesos and they will be charged the same amount again to see a doctor.

 

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