I've done a lot of heavy stories on violence here in Colombia recently, so I want to share something I found extremely endearing while reporting on the border in Arauquita. In spite of fleeing their homes from conflict, many refugees didn't leave their pets behind. See thread.

The kind-heartedness of these mostly poor farmers restored some of my faith in humanity while reporting there. Here's Alexander Ferreira, 45, and Chiquitín the bird, who kept jumping on my camera. They've been together for a year and Ferreira said he couldn't leave him behind.

Like over 5,000 others, he fled towards the end of March from the nearby Venezuelan border towns in Apure State after bombings, house raids and aggression by the Venezuelan military, supposedly searching for members or accomplices of Colombian guerrilla groups operating there.

Close by Ferreira in the shelter was Tania Prada, 26, and her two parrots. She told me they're part of the family too.

I went on the search for more people with pets. I found a mother, 31, and daughter, 14, both called Maria Perez who brought their pet rabbit, called Niño.

In another shelter close by, I found Lirio Hernandez, 29, and his partner Yuss, 30, from the Venezuelan border town of La Victoria, where most people had fled from. In their tent, alongside their child, they had this small bird, also called Niño.

This parrot took center stage in one of the shelters.

Emilia Garrido, 60, sits with her dog Nieka. In the box behind is Neika's new pup, born just 3 days before the bombing started. Garrido says she had to bring them, and that people think she's crazy because she talks to them all the time.

Someone's pet dog roams the shelter while newcomers set up a place to sleep on donated mattresses.

Sisters Mariallne, 14 and Mariana, 16, show me their pets they brought along. They recalled hearing helicopters and then loud explosions before they fled. They said the electric went off and people ran away. The dog is called Niño (it was a popular choice) and the bird is Purri.

There were many more, but I'll end with one more of my personal favorite, Chiquitín. I spoke to Alexander today who told me the loud explosions we heard across the border in Venezuela have stopped, but like most there, he's scared to return and continues to live at the shelter.

You can read the ins and outs of the reason why these people fled to Colombia in my piece for the @washingtonpost, written alongside @Anthony_Faiola with photos by @nadege_mazars https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/01/venezuela-military-offensive-forces-migrants-refugees-into-colombia/

Last one lol