Consuelo Manyoma, a resident of the Afro-Colombian village San Isidro, has been living in limbo for two years, waiting for news that it is safe for her family to return home. San Isidro, located along a strategic cocaine trade corridor, often experiences gunfire and violence, forcing families to flee in fear for their lives. Manyoma and other residents chartered buses to escape the violence, only to find themselves in the midst of a mass internal displacement crisis that has affected millions of Colombians. Since leaving San Isidro, Manyoma’s family has been living in a sports arena turned emergency shelter in Buenaventura, struggling to make ends meet while waiting for peace to come.
San Isidro, a village owned collectively by nine Black communities, is a picturesque area where families make a living through farming, fishing, and logging. However, its strategic location in the cocaine trade route exposes residents to violence and instability. The village has become a battleground for various armed groups vying for power and territory, leading to fear and uncertainty among the residents. After enduring gunfights, curfews, and disappearances of villagers, Manyoma and others felt compelled to leave their homes in search of safety, only to be thrust into a new crisis of internal displacement.
The mass internal displacement in Colombia is a result of the country’s long-standing conflict between government forces, drug cartels, armed groups, and paramilitaries. Millions of Colombians have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety, facing uncertain futures and challenges as they try to rebuild their lives. Manyoma’s family, like many others, thought their stay in the emergency shelter in Buenaventura would be temporary, but two years later, they still find themselves stuck in limbo, waiting for peace to come while struggling to survive in difficult circumstances.
Living in the Crystal Coliseum, Manyoma and her family feel trapped in a state of uncertainty, unable to return home or move forward with their lives. The lack of progress towards peace in Colombia has left them feeling isolated and helpless, unsure of what the future holds for them and their community. Despite their resilience and determination to survive, they face daily challenges and obstacles that make it difficult to see a way out of their current situation.
The emotional toll of being displaced and living in a temporary shelter weighs heavily on Manyoma and other residents, who long for the sense of security and stability that home provides. The trauma of fleeing violence and uncertainty, coupled with the challenges of trying to rebuild their lives in a new environment, takes a toll on their mental and emotional well-being. Manyoma’s hopes for a peaceful return to San Isidro seem distant, as the cycle of violence and displacement in Colombia continues to affect countless families like hers.
As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing conflict and displacement in Colombia, the story of Consuelo Manyoma and her family is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and instability. Their resilience and determination to survive against all odds serve as a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges they face, Manyoma and others like her continue to hold onto hope for a better future, where they can finally return home and rebuild their lives in peace.
