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Colombia

History of Country:  Colombia, the only country in Latin America named after Christopher Columbus, lies in an area of geological instability that makes it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In November, 1985, a long dormant volcano, Nevado del Ruiz, erupted and killed 23,000 people and destroyed 50,000 acres of farmland, numerous livestock and buildings. Other major earthquakes hit the country in 1906 and 1999, each killing over 1000 people.

As many as eight different Indian groups, including the Chibcha, lived in Colombia before the first Spaniard reach the land in 1525. The Chibcha Indians were defeated and the city of Bogota was founded in 1538. The colony was under Spanish rule for over 200 years, and became independent in August 1819. The Constituion of Cucuta formally set up the federation called the Republic Colombia, which included Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The Colombian civil war between liberals and conservatives, broke out in 1899 and lasted four years, resulted in more than 100,000 deaths, extensive property damage and national economic ruin. Shortly after the war, Panama withdrew from the Republic with the help of the United States.

Immediately after the assassination of left-wing liberal leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan in April 1948, riots and vandalism emerged throughout Colombia. This period of insurrection was called "La Violencia" which lasted for 10 years and 200,000 people lost their lives. In the 1960s and 1970s, groups of armed guerrillas were organized. 75% of the world's cocaine was produced in Colombia. In the 1990s, numerous right-wing paramilitary groups were also formed. By the end of 1999, 23,000 people were reported killed by these groups and common criminals. The violence has forced more than 2 million Colombians to flee the country in recent years. In May 2004, the UN announced that Colombia's 39-year-long drug war had created the worst humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere.

Today, with the help of U.S. special forces, Colombia has established aggressive efforts against the drug trade and passed economic reform bills. Coca production has declined by 30% in the last two years.  The people of Colombia continue to struggle to over come economic and social difficulties.