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Colombia: the country hit by a historic wave of drought
Colombia: the country hit by a historic wave of drought
(FRANCEINFO)
With the lack of precipitation in recent months in Colombia, the level of the Amazon has never been so low. The drought notably disrupted the transport of goods, which led to a rise in food prices.
Not so long ago, this spit of sand did not exist in the region of Leticia, Colombia. On the banks of the Amazon, the longest and most powerful river in the world, change is already clearly visible. The South American country is experiencing a historic drought this year, one of the consequences of global warming. To access remote villages on the edge of the forest, roads are rare. The easiest way is to take river routes, but when the level of the Amazon is too low, the rivers are impassable.
“To evacuate a sick person by road, you have to walk four hours before reaching a health center”deplores Crispin Angarita, representative of the Leticia indigenous reserve. The drought has also disrupted the transport of goods. More difficult navigation thus causes food prices to rise. The most vulnerable to these climate changes are indigenous people and fishermen. Their existence depends on the nature that surrounds them. Access to water and more complicated supplies make them increasingly fragile. With the lack of precipitation in recent months, the level of the Amazon has never been so low.
Watch the full report in the video above.