On February 1 and 2, a commission of representatives from 20 sponsoring countries from the United Nations Department of Political Affairs -UN DPA- visited Colombia with the objective of obtaining first-hand knowledge of the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the work performed by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC). The commission held meetings with representatives of the national government, the international community, civil society and FARC on February 1 in Bogota.

Last Friday February 2, delegates from Korea, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Great Britain reached the place, where the last container with FARC arms departed for destruction, in order to learn about the implementation of the peace agreement. The delegation also aimed at learning how the reintegration of the ex-combatants who live in the TATR, in Pondores, Fonseca, in La Guajira is going on. About 200 ex-combatants currently live with their families in this TATR.

During the visit, the delegates spent some time with the people who reside there, like Juan Hermilio Cabrera (Bertulfo Álvarez) ex-commander of the FARC Caribbean Block, and Milton Toncel (Joaquín Gómez) ex-commander of the FARC Southern Bloc. Delegates also had the opportunity to listen to people from nearby communities who shared their opinions on the reincorporation process.

Afterwards, the delegation toured the TATR and visited the 150-hectare Nueva Colombia farm, a few meters away from the TATR. A cooperative made of FARC members manages the farm and has grown 10 hectares of tomato, peppers, bananas, corn and yucca. About 30 FARC members and 12 community members work in the crops.

Products from the farm have been commercialized in the local market and as of February, the World Food Programme (UN agency) will purchase part of the FARC farm’s production for the Schools Nutrition Programme in partnership with Coompazcol Coperative.

At the farm, FARC members have built an area for ecotourism for those who want to learn about their life in the Colombian jungle during their combat years.

By: Héctor Latorre / Publich Information Officer. UN Verification Mission in Colombia. 

More photos of the visit here.