environment
‘If we see you again, we kill you’: how a Colombian wildlife hotspot turned into a death zone
Armed groups and a state-owned refinery’s oil leaks have displaced Barrancabermeja’s fishing community and poisoned a paradise once full of manatees and jaguars
TL;DR
- The San Silvestre wetlands in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, are experiencing severe environmental damage due to oil spills from the Ecopetrol refinery.
- These spills have caused mass deaths of fish, birds, turtles, and caimans, impacting the local fishing community's livelihood and safety.
- Illegal armed groups operate in the area, hacking into oil pipelines for fuel theft, which causes additional spills and poses a direct threat to residents.
- Fishing communities face intimidation, threats, and even assassination attempts, leading to forced displacement and a climate of fear.
- Residents are calling for peace and the restoration of their environment, seeking to live without constant threats from both pollution and armed groups.