125. The forced displacement of these communities lasted a total of four years, 251 from February 1997 to March 2001, although the return process began in January 2000.252 It is an undisputed fact that 270 persons returned during the first stage; 84 in the second stage, followed by another 450 and, during the last stage, approximately 150 persons returned. 253 In addition, owing to the persistence in the region of the factors that gave rise to the displacement in 1997 (the ACCU and the FARC guerrilla), the communities banded together in the CAVIDA process decided voluntarily, and under the aegis of the State and of the international community, to set up two settlements known as “Esperanza en Dios” and “Nueva Vida”, and determined to prevent armed agents from entering the areas that they lived in and cultivated, defined as humanitarian zones.254 The members of CAVIDA chose to adopt internal rules of coexistence in which they established that they would remain outside the armed conflict, and would not collaborate with any of those participating in the hostilities.255 126. The evidence shows that, during the four years of the displacement, 256 the State only offered the following support for the return: (a) humanitarian assistance to 10 families who, in 2004,257 returned voluntarily from Jaqué (Panama) to Nueva Vida; (b) actions in the Cacarica river basin aimed at community assistance, from which one “Nueva Vida” family benefited;258 (c) humanitarian assistance, psychological care, and organization of the shelters by the Presidential Advisory Council for the Displaced and some NGOs, January 1999;259 (d) food for Cupica and Turbo from May 1999 and January 2000, respectively, until December 2000, to the value of 1,243,475,684 Colombian pesos; (e) payment of public services of water and electricity for Turbo and the two shelters amounting to 68,233,062 pesos, and (f) “toiletry kits, dishes, cooking utensils and stoves for 172,676,618 pesos.”260 251 Cf. Affidavit of John Jairo Mena Palacio of January 21, 2013 (evidence file, folio 14985). 252 Cf. Ombudsman’s Office. Decision No. 025 of the Ombudsman on the massive human rights violations and forced displacement in the Bajo Atrato region of Chocó, October 2002, para. 37 (evidence file, folio 233). 253 Cf. Constitutional Court. Judgment T-955 of October 17, 2003 (evidence file, folio 140). See also: Ombudsman’s Office. Decision No. 025 of the Ombudsman on the massive human rights violations and forced displacement in the Bajo Atrato region of Chocó, October 2002, para. 37 (evidence file, folio 237). 254 Cf. Constitutional Court. Judgment T-955 of October 17, 2003 (evidence file, folio 140). See also: Affidavit of Elvia Hinestroza Roa of January 21, 2013 (evidence file, folio 15034); Complaint filed by Evangelina Mosquera Hinestroza, on February 27, 1997, before the National Justice and Peace Prosecutors Unit advising that she had been displaced from the district of Cacarica to Turbo (evidence file, folio 17725). Also: Ombudsman’s Office, Press communiqué No. 773 of October 8, 2002 (evidence file, folio 51399). 255 Cf. Ombudsman’s Office. Press communiqué No. 869 of August 21, 2003 (evidence file, folio 51403): “Government entities that are members of the Joint Commission (including the Presidential Human Rights Program, the Ministry of the Interior, the Social Solidarity Network, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Public Prosecution Service, as well as representatives of international agencies and of NGOs) have visited these settlements several times; are aware of the situation of their inhabitants, and can corroborate the commitments made by the different Government entities and by the community itself.” See also: Constitutional Court. Judgment T-955 of October 17, 2003 (evidence file, folios 137 and 138). Similarly, Ombudsman’s Office. Press communiqué No. 773 of October 8, 2002 (evidence file, folio 51399 and 51400) and “Somos Tierra de Esta Tierra. Memorias de una Resistencia Civil,” CAVIDA (evidence file, folio 301 and ff.). 256 Cf. Affidavit of John Jairo Mena Palacio of January 21, 2013 (evidence file, folio 14985). 257 Cf. Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of August 27, 2009, para. 110 (evidence file, folio 7597). 258 Cf. Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of August 27, 2009, paras. 148 and 149 (evidence file, folio 7870): Visits to provide comprehensive assistance in 2005 and one in 2006, for medical-surgical care; food, medicines, and psychosocial care; in coordination with Comunidad Hábitat Finanzas (CHF), schools were constructed in the districts of Bogota (1), San Higinio (1) and El Limón (1), and 150 temporary shelters were erected for San Higinio, Bocas del Limón, La Tapa, Puente América, Santa Lucia and Barranquilla. 259 Cf. Vice Presidency of the Republic of Colombia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Internal work document of September 26, 2002 (evidence file, folio 48117). 260 Cf. Joint Verification Commission, State and Government entities. Management report, March 2004 (evidence file, folios 4988 and 4989). 52