The void that uses Usaid in Cartagena: these are the gigantic social programs that end up due to lack of resources

Cartagena faces a serious social crisis after the suspension of the financing of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a blow that directly impacts thousands of people in vulnerability. The measure affects essential programs that attended to migrants, victims of trafficking in persons and communities at risk, leaving the District Administration in a counterreloj career to find solutions.

Currently, in the city there are at least 69,000 migrants identified, although it is estimated that the figure is much greater. The interruption of USAID programs puts key initiatives in employability, education, humanitarian care and legal accompaniment for this population.

“They were helping us for companies, especially from Mamonal, to use these migrants who had arrived in unfavorable conditions,” said María Abonado, director of International Cooperation of the Cartagena District.

At the same time, the official explained that one of the toughest blows is received by the Intégrate center, a space designed for migrants’ attention that had the support of Usaid. Although the Ministry of Equality continues to provide support, the absence of the US agency implies the loss of critical resources.

“At this time we do not even remain with a migration point in the intégrate center because the Migration Center was also financed by USAID,” said subscriber.

And it is that the impact not only affects the migrant population, since the programs for the prevention, prosecution and assistance of victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking will also be harmed, initiatives that until now had a comprehensive approach to awareness and support for survivors .

“What we were doing in sensitization, in judicialization and in support of victims was very strong. Now we have to see how we are going to collect these resources again and allocate them directly from the district budget, ”explained the official.

In turn, Dumek Turbay, mayor of Cartagena, expressed concern about the suspension of resources, warning that “many of them, most, will remain in Limbo.”

“We are currently working especially with the Interior Secretariat, who is in charge of practically all these programs, in contingencies, in searching for other countries, other allies,” said subscriber.

The efforts include approaches with Japan, Switzerland, Korea and Spain to achieve alternative financing. However, they recognize that these processes take time.

“All this is a relationship issue, take time. The idea is that we can quickly supply this and touch these doors in an effective way. We call on all these international countries that have these issues as a priority to come to Cartagena and support us, because we are really suffering the consequences strongly from these suspensions, ”said Maria Abonado.

Although, the suspension of funds has been announced for 90 days, there is no certainty about whether they will be renewed or replaced by other sources of financing, they said from the district administration.

“We aspire that in 90 days again, it is for USAID or by some other means that the United States government estimates relevant, we can receive this support and this help again,” said subscriber.

For now, the district has managed to gather a temporary financial mattress with resources from other sources, but these will not be enough to cover all the demand for these processes.

“We have mattresses that we had been getting in other parts, but it really is not a mattress that lasts 90 days. Meanwhile, we will suffer with resources from the district, which we have to see how we get from the Interior Secretariat, ”he concluded.