United Nations Radio

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has delivered 14 tons of food aid to several indigenous communities in a remote area of Colombia.

According to UNHCR, the food aid, delivered by boat to some 1,000 people, was provided by the World Food Programme in response to a very difficult humanitarian situation. UNHCR's Spokesman in Geneva, Ron Redmond, says most of the population has abandoned the villages because of fighting between rival armed groups and those who remain are virtually cut off from the rest of the world.

"There are critical food shortages and very high risks of displacement. The area is remote and accessible only by river. It is disputed territory, so fear and a shortage of gasoline have brought boat transport there to a standstill."

Mr. Redmond says most of the beneficiaries of the food aid belong to the Guyabero and Nukak Maku indigenous groups. Under Colombian and international law, special efforts must be made to protect such groups from losing their traditional lands and last week's mission was part of a series of preventive protection measures to this end.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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