La Guajira, which has a majority indigenous population, has the highest levels of extreme poverty and child malnutrition in the country. Nearly one-third of the 141 deaths nationwide from child malnutrition this year have been in La Guajira, where there are nearly 2,000 severe cases in children under five. This owes in no small part to the fact that La Guajira is a Caribbean coastal desert where many indigenous communities have limited access to water, food, and other basic services. After visiting various municipalities in the department, Petro declared an economic and social emergency, allowing him to issue decrees, bypassing congress, to prioritise the use of water for human consumption rather than oil palm plantations and thermo-electric plants.
End of preview - This article contains approximately 341 words.
Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article
Not a Subscriber?
Choose from one of the following options
