Colombia's Indigenous Demand Justice for Thousands of Dead Kids

More than 140 Wayuu indigenous members arrived in Bogota on Wednesday to protest the deaths of their children due to the harsh drought in the community of La Guajira in northern Colombia.

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It took them four days to reach the capital of Colombia, and they said they will stay there until the government hears their petitions.

“There are no resources, no ideal conditions for education, for nutrition, and we eat once a day,” said Fany Samudio, a member of the community.

The protesters used small coffins to represent the children that have died and placed them in the Bolivar Plaza.

Cada cajita representa el féretro de un niño Wayúu muerto. No tuvieron la oportunidad de sonreír. pic.twitter.com/DYILGtJqDu

— Arttesano (@arttesano) May 11, 2016

"Each box represents a coffin of a Wayuu. They didn't have the opportunity to smile."

According to community leaders, 12,000 indigenous children under the age of 5 have died since 2012. They say 27 of those deaths happened in the first months of 2016.

Guajira has seen a growing number of mining projects in recent years that have depleted local water sources. Human rights defenders have denounced that projects, saying the salty waters found in Guajira are not even suitable for goats.

“This is nothing more or less than an extermination of a community,” said Remedios Uriana from the Wayuu people.