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Cali receives injured civilians after attack in Cauca: 'City continues to suffer consequences of violence'
🇨🇴 Colombia /Conflict & Security

Cali receives injured civilians after attack in Cauca: 'City continues to suffer consequences of violence'

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Cali received eight civilian casualties, including adults and a child, following a fierce attack by dissident groups in Suárez, Cauca.
  • The attack, which involved drones dropping explosives, injured seven people initially, later updated to eight.
  • Authorities condemned the use of drones in attacks and called for respect for international humanitarian law.

Cali continues to bear the brunt of violence from northern Cauca, with eight civilians, including adults and a child, arriving at city clinics with serious injuries following a recent attack in Suárez.

Cali continues to receive the painful consequences of the violence that today affects northern Cauca. In the last few hours, minors and adults with serious injuries resulting from armed confrontations have entered different assistance centers in our city.

— Gerardo MendozaCali's ombudsman highlighting the impact of violence on the city.

The incident, attributed to dissident factions of the 'Jaime Martínez' front, involved the use of drones to drop explosives. While initial reports indicated seven injured, one adult and six children, the total number later rose to eight. Three patients, two adults and a 7-year-old boy with a chest wound, were admitted to the Fundación Valle del Lili clinic. One adult has since been discharged, while the other, 55-year-old Juan Bautista Herrera, remains under care.

Gerardo Mendoza, Cali's ombudsman, strongly condemned the attacks, stating, "Cali continues to receive the painful consequences of the violence that today affects northern Cauca." He urged armed actors to respect international humanitarian law and called on authorities to strengthen protection measures for victims.

The use of drones with explosive devices is a flagrant transgression of the norms of international humanitarian law, which today violates the integrity of the...

— Colonel Francisco AgudeloCommander of the Rapid Deployment Force No. 5, condemning the tactics used by armed groups.

Colonel Francisco Agudelo, commander of the Rapid Deployment Force No. 5, confirmed that army troops are maintaining an offensive in rural Suárez following the attacks. He condemned the use of drones with explosive devices as a "flagrant transgression" of international humanitarian law that endangers civilians. The military's response, supported by the Colombian Air Force, successfully repelled the aggression and identified the launch point of the explosives, with no reported casualties among soldiers.

From the district ombudsman's office of Santiago de Cali, we strongly reject these events that continue to put the lives and integrity of the civilian population at risk.

— Gerardo MendozaCali's ombudsman issuing a statement condemning the attacks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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