Colombia

Fieldset

Colombia is of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries on the planet. Situated on South America’s Caribbean coast, it encompasses parts of the Amazon rainforest and Andes mountains.

In 2016, Colombia declared itself at peace after 52 years of a bitter four-sided civil war. However violence involving criminal groups is still rife. 

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) first responded to the violence in 1985. Since the peace process began, our focus has shifted towards providing vital mental health support in the aftermath of the conflict. 

Steve Hide

Guns, cocaine and conflict: Getting healthcare to communities in rural Colombia

In the remote communities of Colombia's Pacific coast, the peace process has made few inroads. MSF's programme director in the country joins a medical team as they travel upriver to communities still in the grip of armed conflict.

18 Dec 2020 / 13 minute read

Barbara Saitta

Nurse

"There's this child . . . he's breathing so weird"

This World Humanitarian Day, nurse Barbara blogs about her first posting with MSF, to Colombia, where she met her first pneumonia patient, and saw the difference that vaccinations can make to children's lives...

18 Aug 2016 / 5 minute read