In Colombia, guardianship orders only affect the people involved, but Sánchez emphasized that “this ruling has expanded the impact to all families affected by the Bojaba River and who have been displaced. In addition, the court called on the Congress of the Republic to pass laws on this issue. Let’s say they admit that in Colombia there is regulatory vacuum in the face of forced displacement due to environmental factors and climate change,” Sanchez said.

The plaintiffs alleged that they were unable to return to their home due to exposure to water and that the government’s actions were “inadequate”.

The court found that “State has a series obligations before, during and after displacement due to environmental factors,” such as maintaining a register of possible victims and “organizing an institutional proposal” for their protection.

He was also required, among other things, to conduct emergency evacuation drills and plan locations for relocating affected populations in the event of a disaster.

As for the elderly couple, the court ruled that the state must protect their fundamental rights, as it does for more than 8.6 million displaced There remains an armed conflict that has lasted almost six decades.