Indigenous families in Buenaventura face renewed homelessness after August earthquake

The Wounaan Nomaan community, comprising 22 families and close to 100 individuals, was displaced from their ancestral lands by armed groups five years ago and later housed in a three-story building that once served as a radio station in Buenaventura. On August 10, a strong earthquake caused the building to collapse, leaving the families without homes and living in a temporary refuge not designed for long-term use. Mario Suárez, who changed his name for safety, says the loss of their handcrafted goods and shelter is a severe economic and psychological blow.

The group has been waiting for the national government to move them permanently to a municipality in Valle del Cauca, near their original homes. The Norwegian Refugee Council and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre note that similar cases are emerging across Valle del Cauca and Chocó, where both internally displaced Colombians and Venezuelan migrants face heightened insecurity and limited access to services. Local leaders stress the need for sustained relief, reconstruction, and respect for community cohesion in the recovery effort.