Colombia

 Former combat medic Hector Bernal trains soldiers in tactical medicine at his center outside Bogotá. Bernal says he’s trained more than 20 soldiers who have gone to Ukraine recently.

Colombian army veterans join Ukraine’s army — motivated by financial need

Hundreds of Colombians have recently enlisted in Ukraine’s military, as it tries to replenish its forces after months of heavy losses on the frontlines. But many are not going for ideological reasons.

Colombian army veterans join Ukraine’s army — motivated by financial need
Group of people at night sitting on motorized wheelchairs

Wheelchair tours show Colombia’s Medellín from a different perspective

Wheelchair tours show Colombia’s Medellín from a different perspective
Tourists stroll down a street that is packed with bars and restaurants, in Medellin's Provenza neighborhood.

Medellín was one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Now, it's trying to grapple with an influx of tourists.

Medellín was one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Now, it's trying to grapple with an influx of tourists.
sidewalk

Colombian activists try to shame city government into fixing broken sidewalks — by painting them pink

Colombian activists try to shame city government into fixing broken sidewalks — by painting them pink
Zhayreth, Adriana, Freddy and Freydar Torres sit on the stoop of their apartment in Dorchester.

With strife behind them, a young migrant family prepares to seek asylum in Boston

With strife behind them, a young migrant family prepares to seek asylum in Boston
protest

Colombia starts ceasefire with nation's oldest rebel group 

A six-month ceasefire between the Colombian government and the rebel group known as the National Liberation Army began this month. Support for the truce, and ongoing peace talks, could depend on whether the group ceases attacks on civilians that include kidnappings and extortion. 

Colombia starts ceasefire with nation's oldest rebel group 
people lined up

Colombian searchers reveal new details on the rescue of four children who survived plane crash in the Amazon 

Colombia’s president awarded medals to members of the search party that found the four Indigenous children in one of the world’s toughest terrains.

Colombian searchers reveal new details on the rescue of four children who survived plane crash in the Amazon 
A police officer searches and checks the documents of a man living in the Kiwanis Community, during a preventive patrol in search of gang members in Soyapango, El Salvador, Aug. 16, 2022, amid a state of exception.

El Salvador imprisons dozens of foreign visitors in crackdown on crime

In El Salvador, thousands of people have been imprisoned over the past 15 months, including dozens of international visitors, as the government tries to stop gang violence through a law known as the “state of exception.”

El Salvador imprisons dozens of foreign visitors in crackdown on crime
Soldiers line up before leaving to patrol the streets in Bogotá, Colombia, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. 

Use the force: Part II

Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive this week into what happened when Colombia’s military took on police work in Cali, the country’s third-largest city.

Use the force: Part II
man with trash

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders

The people who collect garbage for recycling organized among themselves to change how they are paid and how they are treated. Today, waste pickers are officially recognized as part of the municipal waste system. 

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders
Three families from Afghanistan prepare to board a boat in Necocli, Colombia, that will take them towards the border with Panama.

Afghan families traverse most of Latin America to seek asylum at the US border

The US government changed the rules governing how people can seek asylum at the US-Mexico border last week, as a pandemic-era policy called Title 42 expired. Although it may become more difficult, thousands of people are still making their way from South America to the US border, including migrants from all over the world. Some are making their way through the Darien Gap, a dangerous jungle that separates Colombia and Panama.

Afghan families traverse most of Latin America to seek asylum at the US border
After migrants arrive in Capurgana's harbor, they are loaded on tuk-tuks and taken to the shelter on the edge of town.

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy

In the small village of Capurgana, at the entrance to the Darién jungle and near Colombia’s border with Panama, hundreds of villagers now work as guides and porters leading migrants across the rainforest.

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy
A group of Venezuelan migrants begins the grueling three day trek across the Darien Gap, as they leave the Colombian village of Capurgana.

As Title 42 ends, more migrants from South America are crossing the Darién jungle en route to US

In Capurgana, a small town on the southern edge of the Darién Gap in Colombia, about 300 people are arriving each day to make the grueling trek across the jungle, which lasts three to four days.  

As Title 42 ends, more migrants from South America are crossing the Darién jungle en route to US
Bogota has trained more than 500 police officers to respond to cases of gender-based violence, known as the purple patrol.

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses

Bogotá is trying to curb sexual harassment against women on public transportation systems. It’s trained more than 500 police officers as part of the purple patrol to respond to cases of gender-based violence. Female police officers also hand out leaflets with information about hotlines that women can call for assistance.

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses
people in line

Thousands of passengers are stranded after Colombia’s Viva Air grounds flights 

​​​​​​​Thousands of passengers were stranded in airports in Colombia and several other Latin American countries this week following the collapse of the budget airline, Viva Air. It's the latest airline company to fold amid decreasing passenger demand and higher oil prices. 

Thousands of passengers are stranded after Colombia’s Viva Air grounds flights