Cúcuta, Colombia, May 22, 2021 – The Scalabrinians continue to provide timely assistance to the neighborhoods on the outskirts of Cúcuta, this time with the community of the Crispín Duran neighborhood, a Scalabrinian advocacy sector, where legal counseling sessions were held. On this occasion, about 80 people were assisted, the vast majority from Venezuela, Colombian returnees and the host population.

The Scalabrinian Missionaries were able to articulate efforts with the Norwegian Refugees Council so that a team of professionals in legal matters could provide guidance in access to the Identification System of Potential Beneficiaries of Social Programs (Sisben), health and legal assistance in public services to families who, due to ignorance, did not know how to implement legal requests for the benefit of their fundamental rights.

Due to the heavy rain season, several households in the community had their homes affected. Also, other families were affected by the overflow of a pipe due to the winter wave. People received guidance from the legal group to receive immediate attention from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), a government entity in charge of assisting in cases of emergency.

Basic services in Colombia such as access to the Sisben and access to documentation and other basic rights that they can enjoy are often not taken advantage of by these communities due to lack of knowledge and advice, thus Scalabrinians continue to provide these days of legal assistance to impact them positively.

Source: https://scalabrinicucuta.org/2021/05/22/asistencia-legal-crispin-duran/