Photo Credit: Refugees International
02/15/2007

The Colombian government has undertaken some housing projects for the displaced population. Often overseen by state or local officials, these projects are notorious for mismanagement and corruption. This is a house in the “new” community of Villa España in Quibdó, Chocó, and these houses were to be handed over to the new occupants in a matter of days. Faulty construction like this is rampant throughout the development, and even though the project was declared ready for habitation, houses here are in various states of completion – some were painted, while others were left bare; some had plumbing installed, others had pipes hanging out of the wall unconnected; some had windows installed, others were wide open to the elements.