Chocó's Road to Nowhere: A Century of Unfulfilled Promises

Chocó's Road to Nowhere: A Century of Neglect? Colombia's Chocó department, a region rich in natural resources and cultural heritage, suffers from a critical lack of road infrastructure. One hundred years after engineer Roberto White proposed a comprehensive road plan, only two major highways remain unfinished, leaving the area isolated and hindering its development. This report details the consequences of this neglect, including economic hardship, limited access to essential services, and the tragic loss of life due to dangerous road conditions. "Eleven kilometers doesn't seem like much," says Nubia Córdoba Murillo, Governor of Chocó, "but these are eleven kilometers traversing the Cordillera Occidental, with incredibly difficult and hazardous points." The report shows images of landslides, road closures, and the memorial to 39 people killed in a 2024 landslide. The video also highlights the impact on indigenous communities who are often forced to close roads due to lack of attention to their needs. Despite the challenges, the report offers a glimmer of hope with ongoing road improvements and the potential of the interoceanic canal project to transform the region's future. The project's success, however, depends on addressing the systemic issues that have led to decades of neglect.