As part of the activities of the Acceleration Plan, led by the national Government and the Public Force, 37 sectors free of antipersonnel mines were delivered.

A balloon bomb was the warning for Luz Marina Contreras to leave her crops. She found the explosive device plowing the soil.

Her surprise was even greater when the Marine Corps Explosives and Demining Group (AEDIM in its Spanish acronym) intervened on the property and found the area contaminated.

“They found several mines on the farm and we didn’t know we were in danger. Today our land is of such devices, and we can walk calmly, take care of our animals and crops," said this woman from El Salado who was benefited from demining.

Her property is part of the 12,800 square meters of land that were declared an antipersonnel mine-free zone.

With the signing of the act, the sectors of El Salado, Raizal, Quimbaya, Padula, Palmitos, Verdum, Camaroncito, La Cansona, Jesús del Monte, La Candelaria, la Cabaña de Bolivia, Masingui, Miranda, Las Lajas, Loma del Ciento, Ojo de Agua, Caracolí, Caracolicito, el Cocuelo, El Cielo, Guamito, San Carlos, Sabaneta, Saltones de Meza, Colina de Venado, Balsamo, Arroyo de Arena, Cañada del Tigre, Mala Noche, Santa Clara, Bajo Grande, Kilometro 1, Barquero, Santa Lucia, Alférez, Lázaro y Ojito Seco from the municipality of El Carmen de Bolivar were declared free of suspicion.

"This is an effort by all, and it is an example for all Colombians, that within the context of comprehensive action, progress and development of communities affected by the violence that affected this country is possible," said Vice Admiral of the National Navy, Andres Vasquez.

Interinstitutional intervention

The State, the Public Force, international organizations and the entities of the territory come together to work in a coordinated manner for this district transformation.

One of the strategies is the Acceleration Plan, led by the national Government and monitored by the Presidential Advisor for the Regions, Ana Maria Palau.

Along with the High Commissioner for Peace, Juan Camilo Restrepo; the Vice Minister of Defense for Policies and International Affairs, Sandra Alzate; high military commanders and delegates of the territorial entities, she headed the formal delivery acts of demined areas and civil works, which included road repair in the district and the enhancement and improvement work of the victims’ monument, children's areas, educational institutions and sport zones.

"More than the works delivered, for which we are grateful to the Government, I believe that we have rebuilt the social fabric and we have restored trust to our communities," said Irene Niño, community leader.

The Unit’s actions

The Unit for the Victims is part of the Acceleration Plan through the action’s appliance in the Integral Collective Reparation Plan.

"We are in permanent agreement with the promotion committee, and the instruction is to accelerate this plan’s implementation, counting on the support of the entities that intervene in the aid process," said the Unit for the Victims’ Territorial Director for Bolivar and San Andres, Miledy Galeano.

(End/PDC/COG/RAM)