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Nariño Mobilizes to Rebuild Sugar Cane Plant Destroyed by Armed Groups, Leaving 150 Farmers Jobless
🇨🇴 Colombia /Conflict & Security

Nariño Mobilizes to Rebuild Sugar Cane Plant Destroyed by Armed Groups, Leaving 150 Farmers Jobless

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A vital sugar cane processing plant (trapiche) in Linares, Nariño, was destroyed by armed groups, leaving over 150 people jobless.
  • The plant, owned by Omar Erazo, was a key source of income for 45 families, producing 100 tons of sugar cane products weekly.
  • The Nariño governor's office plans to launch a campaign to help Erazo rebuild the facility, which was caught in clashes between the 'United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia' and a FARC faction.

The Nariño governor's office is preparing to launch a campaign to aid in the recovery of a vital sugar cane processing plant destroyed by armed groups in Linares. The facility, owned by Omar Erazo, was the sole source of livelihood for 45 families, totaling around 150 people.

The destruction occurred on August 22 during intense clashes between the 'United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia' and the 'Franco Benavides' front of the FARC's 'Central High Command.' These groups have been vying for control of drug trafficking routes in the western Nariño region for months. Erazo's trapiche and home were incinerated in the conflict.

It's a trapiche that benefits both the workers and my family. I lost absolutely everything.

— Omar ErazoThe owner of the destroyed sugar cane processing plant describes the devastating impact of the armed conflict on his livelihood and community.

Erazo, 58, explained to Nariño Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar that the plant produced 100 tons of sugar cane products weekly. "It's a trapiche that benefits both the workers and my family," he stated, visibly distressed. "I lost absolutely everything."

He tearfully appealed to the governor for help in rebuilding the plant, a lifelong dream. "I ask you earnestly to help me reorganize the trapiche. I'm left with only the clothes on my back because I couldn't save anything," he said, expressing gratitude for the potential community support. The governor pledged solidarity, promising to find a way for Nariño residents to help Erazo restore his livelihood and for the departmental government to provide assistance.

I ask you earnestly to help me reorganize the trapiche. I'm left with only the clothes on my back because I couldn't save anything.

— Omar ErazoErazo pleads with the governor of Nariño for assistance in rebuilding his destroyed sugar cane processing plant.
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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