Six Children, One Adult Injured in Fierce Cauca Attack; DIHL Violated

A brutal attack in rural Suárez, Cauca, on June 1st has left six children and one adult wounded, with several in critical condition. The violence erupted between the Colombian army and alleged members of the 'Jaime Martínez' structure, dissident FARC elements, in the Playa Rica sector.

Among the injured is 7-year-old Dilan Andrés Silva, who suffered a penetrating chest wound and has been transferred to Cali for critical care, along with the adult victim, 55-year-old Juan Bautista Herrera. Other children injured include Camilo Gutiérrez, 5, with a skull wound, and Silvia Gaviria, Salomé Vega, and Isabel Cristina Silva, aged 9, 9, and 12 respectively. An additional minor's identity remains unconfirmed.

Authorities reported that the offensive included the use of explosive-laden drones, a tactic condemned for violating International Humanitarian Law (DIHL). The attack on civilians occurred amidst ongoing clashes between the army and the armed group, exacerbating the critical public order situation in northern Cauca, a region that has been a target of armed groups for the past four years.

As a consequence of the attack and continued fighting, around 200 families are confined to their homes in rural Suárez. They face severe restrictions on movement and access to essential food and basic services. The Mayor's office of Suárez has strongly condemned the events, urgently calling on all armed actors to respect DIHL.

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They violated DIHL by launching explosives at the population.