The Bishop of Cúcuta (Colombia), Mons. José Libardo Garcés Monsalve, announced that tomorrow Tuesday would be leaving the municipality of Tibu about 50 tons of aid for the population that has been confined by the clashes between the ELN and the 33rd front 33 FARC dissidents.
During the program The Bishop’s voiceThe Prelate indicated that the food packages were preparing for the Food Bank of Cúcuta “to transport them tomorrow to Tibú”.
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“We have as a goal about fifty tons with what has been collected (from the parishes) and with what has reached us from the food bank of Bogotá and other companies of business, institutions that have contributed or joined the Food Bank As a collection center, ”said the bishop, whose diocese also arrived thousands of displaced.
For almost two weeks, the clashes between the two armed groups in the Catatumbo region, in the department of Norte de Santander, have forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes in the municipalities of Tibú, Ocaña, San Calixto, the Tarra, among others.
According to the Unified Command Post (PMU) of the Government of Norte de Santander, until yesterday January 26 there are 48,000 displaced and about 25,000 people confined in their municipalities. Of the latter, 13,300 are in Tibu.
Mons. Garcés Monsalve highlighted the work he is carrying out in the Diocese of Tibú the local bishop, Mons. Israel Bravo Cortes, next to the clergy. He added that last week a first six -ton aid was delivered.
“We have chosen to take Tibú,” said Mons. Garcés, “because it is where people are suffering more, in the territory. It is the simple, very poor people, who could not go to other cities and need attention. ”
The Colombian bishop said that through these aids we also want to convey “the charity of Christ”, so that the people affected by the violence palpate the love of God.
“We also pray for the violent, so that the Lord provokes a heart available for peace, which is what we all yearn for,” said the Bishop of Cúcuta.
Eduardo Berdejo
Professional in Social Communication of the National University of San Marcos in Peru, I have more than 20 years of experience in Catholic digital journalism. As part of ACI Press, I have been sent to cover the trips of Pope Francis to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Peru, in addition to the Synod of Sinodality in the Vatican in 2023.