The Colombian government will look after children rescued in the jungle for six months

The Columbia Institute for Family Welfare will be in charge of four native children who are 40 days They were lost in the Colombian Amazon jungle, after six months of surviving the crash of the plane in which they were traveling with their mother, another adult and the pilot, according to Efe.

This was confirmed by the ICBF director this Friday. Astrid Caceresthe same day when the departure of the minors from the military hospital in Bogotá, where they had been since the rescue on June 9, was confirmed.

Currently, after leaving the medical center, four brothers remain in the child protection center ICBF whose location was not disclosed, although Cáceres indicated that “a rural setting was sought” to make the children feel comfortable.

“They expressed calmness, they show routes in all decisions”the ICBF director added, indicating that her return to everyday life will take six months, during which the defense attorney handling the case will examine the environment and family context to make a decision on her future custody.

“At this point there needs to be more context on the family framework,” said Cáceres, a task for which he will have the help and accompaniment of indigenous communities.

This second phase that is beginning, the official continued, will aim to “care for and protect them until there is a safe environment” for them outside of ICBF custody.

Miracle from children

The four brothers are “very well” after being rescued on June 9 after 40 days lost in the jungle and transferred to a military hospital, where they arrived with severe malnutrition, dehydration and infections.

Cáceres confirmed that the minors “regained height and weight” and that they “felt very protected when they left the hospital since they were accompanied by indigenous organizations”.

It is about 13-year-old girl Lesly Mukutuy, who was in charge of taking care of her brothers Soleiny Mukutuy, 9; Tien Noriel Ranoque Mukutuy, 5 years old, and Cristin Neruman Ranoque, a baby who turned one year old in the Amazon jungle located between the departments of Caquetá and Guaviare.

The minors were found at a remote point between Caquetá and Guaviara where about 200 soldiers, including special forces commandos and indigenous people from the area, had been searching for them for weeks without rest, all involved in “Operation Hope”.

Custody of the four could go to the maternal grandparents or the father who, according to various media, is accused of sexist violence against his mother.

The Avianline Charter Cessna 206 they were traveling in crashed on May 1, killing the pilot, the children’s mother and the indigenous leader who was accompanying them.