In a hearing to the Constitutional Court to argue his declaration of a State of Economic, Social and Ecological Emergency in La Guajira Department, Petro pointed out because of its culture, the Wayuu indigenous population lives scattered, what worsens the situation.

The head of State listed several issues that generate vulnerability of this region in the extreme north of Colombia; one of the top issues was child undernutrition, which has caused the death of hundreds of children, especially from the Wayuú indigenous community.

Petro added that the school feeding program only reaches 20% of students and in indigenous children the figure is probably lower. Closely linked to this, another issue is the lack of drinking water, which is aggravated by drought, climate change and mining activity.

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