Migration
Since 2015, more than seven million Venezuelans have fled the turmoil in their country. Every day, a steady stream of them crosses the Colombian border, driven by various intentions—some seeking to reunite with family and friends, while others continue their journey even further.
Marked by trade since colonial times, the Indigenous people of La Guajira, and the Serranía del Perijá—including the Wayúu and the Yukpa—live along the Colombia–Venezuela border. Amid a hard landscape shaped by water scarcity, extractive industries, expanding wind farms, and a deepening humanitarian crisis, they continue to survive despite dispossession and food insecurity.
In recent years, the Venezuelan crisis has severely affected the survival of Indigenous communities on both sides of the border. On the Colombian side, they have spent the past two decades facing the encroachment of mining companies on their territories, along escalating violence and insecurity.
Amid poverty, drought, dispossession and turmoil, thousands of Indigenous people move in and out of their territories, striving to make a living. They rely on family networks of care and reciprocity while continuously fighting to defend their land and preserve their culture.
Lately, their struggles have worsen due to limited access to drinking water, food insecurity, inadequate health services, and the growing impacts of climate change.
Against the backdrop of immense challenges, the Indigenous communities along the Colombia-Venezuela border continue their struggle for survival. They have endured the impact of the Venezuelan crisis, the encroachment of mining companies on their lands, and persistent violence and adversity. Yet, marked by resilience, they withstand poverty, drought, dispossession, and turmoil. Through the strength of family bonds, mutual support, and their unwavering determination, they fight to protect their land, culture, and way of life.
Now more than ever, their story stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of immense challenges—a call for greater awareness, solidarity, and meaningful support.
