Colombia Roundup: Israel military relations, housing subsidy, unemployment statistics

Israel military relations sacrificed

In the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike allegedly resulting in casualties in Gaza, diplomatic tensions between Colombia and Israel have escalated. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has strongly condemned Benjamin Netanyahu's government, accusing it of committing "genocide" against the Palestinian people. Drawing parallels with the Holocaust, the president expressed deep concern over the violence in the Gaza Strip, EL Tiempo reports. The news of the airstrike, which reportedly claimed the lives of at least 112 Palestinians, has prompted a swift response from the Colombian government. "Asking for food, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Netanyahu. This is called genocide and remembers the Holocaust so that world powers do not like to recognize it. The world must block Netanyahu. Colombia suspends all purchases of weapons from Israel," Petro wrote in his X account. While details remain conflicting, some witnesses suggest that Israeli military forces indiscriminately fired upon a group of civilians awaiting humanitarian aid. This development has sparked concerns among the opposition in Colombia, with voices warning that the decision on the import of weapons from Israel could potentially weaken the country's public forces.

Housing Subsidy

Barranquilla City is set to fulfil the homeownership dreams of thousands of families with the introduction of the new district housing subsidy program, 'Mi Techo Propio.' Mayor Alejandro Char announced the initiative, aiming to benefit 10,000 families over the next four years. With an initial budget of $265 billion for four years, Mayor Char emphasized that there would be no economic ceiling for the program. "We started this program with $265 billion for these four years, but it should be noted that there will be no economic ceiling in this mayor's office for the initiative. We want this social project to benefit 10,000 families with job creation and the possibility of having a decent space. This was a dream we had a long time ago that every Barranquillero could imagine a family future around a great economic effort," he is quoted by El Heraldo.  The mayor highlighted the broader economic impact, expressing the desire for the program to stimulate the city's economy through increased housing purchases. He envisioned the initiative as facilitating community access to property ownership with optimal financial arrangements. The District of Barranquilla's housing strategy encompasses four key action lines: subsidies for home purchases, property titles, housing improvement, and the construction of two district housing projects.

2024 unemployment statistics

The National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) in Colombia has released the labour market report for January 2024, indicating a decrease in the unemployment rate to 12.7%. This represents a 1% reduction compared to the same month in the previous year when it stood at 13.7%. Despite the improvement, it's noted that January typically experiences a peak in unemployment. Leonardo Trujillo, acting director of DANE, highlighted that the current unemployment levels are approaching those of 2018 and 2019, pre-pandemic figures. The rate remained below the levels recorded in 2023 and significantly lower than the figures from 2022 and 2021, El Elespectador reports. The employed population saw a positive trend, with a 2.5% increase in the national total. Sectors such as agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry, and fishing witnessed notable growth in employment.

Tanker scandal

The controversy surrounding the abandonment of 40 tanks in La Guajira, which failed to deliver any water, has escalated into a criminal investigation. The government of President Gustavo Petro, through the Secretary of Transparency, has officially reported three senior commanders of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and representatives of the three companies involved in the project to the Attorney General's Office. The complaint alleges possible corruption issues and seeks an investigation into the conduct of these six individuals regarding the scandalous handling of the tank project. This move follows a statement from the UNGRD allegedly affirming support for the director, Olmedo López, which President Petro did not endorse. Instead, the President approved a formal complaint, validating media allegations and presenting new elements for the Prosecutor's Office to scrutinize the potential costs associated with the abandoned tanks. Meanwhile, Olmedo López, the director of the Risk Management Unit, has reportedly submitted his resignation letter to the Presidency, EL Colombiano reports.

Senior citizens’ aid

President Petro has declared a significant boost in support for older adults facing extreme poverty without a pension through the Colombia Mayor program. Addressing the National Congress of Municipalities in Cartagena, he announced a monthly subsidy of $225,000 for this vulnerable demographic, aiming to benefit at least 500,000 Colombians living in poverty, El Elespectador "Every old person over 80 years of age without a pension will receive a pension from the Colombian government. We would like to go down and lower the age to start at 75 to 72 years, but we don't have enough money if the pension reform is not done. With your help, we could try to ensure that at least those 79 years old and those 78 years old can also receive the pension bonus," said President Petro. The President highlighted the substantial increase, noting that beneficiaries of the Colombia Mayor program would see their monthly support rise from $80,000 to $225,000. The increased subsidy is scheduled to take effect in the fifth cycle of this year. President Petro clarified that for active participants in the program under the age of 80, the monetary transfer would remain at $80,000 per month.