The quality of the air in the Aburrá Valley worsens - Medellín - Colombia

The quality of the air in Medellín and in the other nine municipalities of the Aburrá Valley is going through the worst moment, since 19 of the 22 stations that measure this are in orange on this Friday afternoon, February 25.

These are the stations located throughout the metropolitan area that have this color that means that it affects sensitive groups such as older adults and children.

Only the San Cristóbal, Belén and Santa Elena stations have a yellow color.

(You may be interested: Daniel Quintero requested precautionary measures before the IACHR for threats)

“The contamination levels are the product of the burning of biomass, that is, of fires in the northern region of Colombia and Venezuela.”, explained Juan David Palacio, director of the Valle de Aburrá Metropolitan Area.

The environmental entity announced that it will meet with the mayors of this region to assess whether restrictive measures would be taken for private vehicles and motorcycles due to the considerable increase in pollution.

(We suggest you read: A young university student was rescued after being kidnapped for a month in Medellín)

These are the stations with orange color in the afternoon of this Friday.

Photo:

Screenshot

Due to the increase in contaminating particles, it is estimated that in the next few days, at least, the station located in the House of Justice of the municipality of Itagüí will reach red, which means that it is dangerous for the entire population.

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“The Metropolitan Area of ​​Valle de Aburrá will continue in the period of analysis, taking into account the fires that are occurring in various parts of the country”, detailed the entity.

MEDELLIN

Medical College of Antioquia requested measures in the event of air quality episode - Medellín - Colombia

The Medical Association of Antioquia called on the National Government, as well as the regional and local ones, to establish long-term measures for air pollution, due to the effects on health that this represents.

As of this February 14, Medellín and the other nine municipalities of the Aburrá Valley are in the first episode of air quality, which will last until April 8.

For this occasion, additional measures such as the pick and plate for cargo vehicles and the extension of the restriction for motorcycles and cars, outside the usual, have not yet been activated. In addition, the circulation permit was not suspended either, which gives people the possibility of paying to leave on the day that the peak and license plate corresponds to them.

“The transitory measures that establish social differentiations based on the possibility of paying money or not to be able to circulate do not solve the problem and are just lukewarm water wipes (…) Taking into account the serious impact on human health, which represents the air pollution,” said Carlos Valdivieso, president of the Antioquia Medical College.

From the environmental authority they indicated that, according to the measurements and forecasts, this episode will not be as strong as the one that occurred in 2020, but not as mild as it was last year, in which there was no restrictive measure.

However, according to how the measurements evolve and external factors such as forest fires that affect air quality, strict measures would be taken.

“It is very possible that from February 21 there will be a peak and license plate for cargo vehicles, but it will depend on how the indicators are. It will be time that will tell if additional measures are taken, such as the suspension of the special circulation payment,” said Juan David. Palacio, director of the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area.

In any case, Valdivieso asked the authorities to issue more long-term measures.

“We invite the authorities of the national, regional and local order to seriously and responsibly address the present and the future of urban mobility. It is essential to generate regulations and incentives that will allow us, within 15 to 20 years, to replace the mobility linked to fossil fuels,” he said.

MEDELLIN

Air Patrol organized a health brigade in Guapi, Cauca - Other Cities - Colombia

Eusebia Mountain Campaz72 years old, got up at 5 am in his house located in the path of Estero Hondo, del Municipality of Guapiput on her best outfit and went to the pier to board a wooden boat, in which she would navigate the Guají and Guapi rivers for about two hours, since two months ago she had registered to be a beneficiary of an examination and possible donation of glasses by the Colombian Civil Air Patrolwhich would reach this remote and difficult-to-access municipality in Cauca, to carry out a large health brigade that would benefit more than 500 people.

Also read: 471 complaints of recruitment of minors have been attended in Medellín)

Fifteen pilots and more than 30 volunteer health professionals arrived by air to the Colombian Pacific, to carry out a health brigade led by the Colombian Civil Air Patrol and aphidin order to provide free medical, surgical and humanitarian careto the inhabitants of the remote municipality of Guapi, Cauca, where access is complicated, there is armed conflict and unfortunately the health post does not have good infrastructure and there are also no specialists or surgeons.

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During the day that took place in a school and lasted 6 days, 571 people were treated, 65 surgical procedures were performed, 29 tubal ligations were performed, 79 glasses were donated, 160 thousand masks, hundreds of medications and supplements and the hospital was equipped with three oxygen concentrators and a diagnostic set. During 2022, the Air Patrol and Afidro will take volunteers in optometry, pediatrics, dermatology, planning, prenatal control, nutrition and surgeons, among others, to 19 more municipalities located in remote and vulnerable areas of the country.

(Also read: Debts to hospitals and patients that Coomeva left in Antioquia are worrying)

Fifteen pilots and more than 30 volunteer health professionals arrived by air to the Colombian Pacific.

Photo:

Juan Pablo Rueda / TIME

Mrs. Eusebia, after two hours of processing and a thorough examination of her eyes, was the beneficiary of a pair of glasses, because in the diagnosis they discovered cataracts, so her vision, both far and near, is very poor. Among hundreds of frames, she chose two of hers, which will be taken to Bogotá, to manufacture the lens that she needs to improve her vision and in a month, you can claim them at the health center.

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“I feel very well thanks to the man who commands this brigade, because one is worse every day because there is no solution. There is no mammogram, when you arrive in Cali you are already invaded by cancer. The State should send specialists for what is not here, well, look, I have cataracts in both of my eyes and I didn’t know,” highlighted.

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“The patient’s smile when he feels that they have been resolved, the patient’s smile when he is listened to and sees the grandparents and the people who come out with a solution to their illnesses and ailments that afflicted them for years, is the most beautiful thing that these brigades leave us” , he claimed Enrique Martín, director of aerial operations of the Colombian Civil Patrol.

Medellín: first episode of air quality begins on February 14 - Medellín - Colombia

The Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area (AMVA), the subregion’s environmental and mobility authority, announced the schedule for the first air quality episode in Medellin and its metropolitan area.

Historically, the subregion experiences two moments of air quality episodes due to the transitions between dry and rainy seasons: the first is between February and March and the second between October and November.

Juan David Palacio, director of AMVA, reported that this first episode will begin on February 14 and indicated that it would last until April 8.

“We calculate that there will be three complex weeks, between March 7 and 25in which the stations could present an Orange Air Quality Index (ICA), and even five or more stations could present a Red ICA, which indicates conditions that are harmful to the health of the inhabitants,” explained the director.

However, for the beginning of the episode no additional changes or restrictions are contemplated to those that already exist.

That is to say, there will be no environmental pick and plate and the charge for circulation during pico y placa will not be eliminated either.

(Also read: In Medellín, 49,270 vehicles paid to circulate during the peak and plate)

This year we have the particularity that the behavior of the number of fires, so far in 2022, is above the historical average, with which, the management of this episode will be different from that of 2021. pic.twitter.com/zDZRdWU3vc

– Juan David Palacio C (@jdpalacioc) February 8, 2022

From the environmental authority they indicated that, according to measurements and forecasts, this episode will not be as strong as the one that occurred in 2020, but neither will it be as mild as last year, in which there was no restrictive measure.

However, according to how the measurements evolve and external factors such as forest fires that affect air quality, strict measures would be taken.

“It is quite possible that from February 21 there is a pick and plate to cargo vehicles, but it will depend on how the indicators are. It will be time that will tell if additional measures are taken, such as the suspension of the special circulation payment,” Palacio said.

(You may be interested in: A young woman would have been tied up and killed inside her house in Medellín)

The Metropolitan Area made a recommendation to the population to avoid prolonged physical activity outdoors and to use public transport during this period.

“The only solution to improve circulation in the territory, and in all the cities of the world, is the promotion of public transport as the backbone of mobility,” said Palacio.

MEDELLIN

Aire Medellín: Air quality episode starts on February 14 - Medellín - Colombia

The Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area (AMVA), the subregion’s environmental and mobility authority, announced the schedule for the first air quality episode in Medellin and its metropolitan area.

Historically, the subregion experiences two moments of air quality episodes due to the transitions between dry and rainy seasons: the first is between February and March and the second between October and November.

Juan David Palacio, director of AMVA, reported that this first episode will begin on February 14 and indicated that it would last until April 8.

“We calculate that there will be three complex weeks, between March 7 and 25in which the stations could present an Orange Air Quality Index (ICA), and even five or more stations could present a Red ICA, which indicates conditions that are harmful to the health of the inhabitants,” explained the manager.

However, for the beginning of the episode no additional changes or restrictions are contemplated to those that already exist.

That is to say, there will be no environmental pick and plate and the charge for circulation during pico y placa will not be eliminated either.

(Also read: In Medellín, 49,270 vehicles paid to circulate during the peak and plate)

This year we have the particularity that the behavior of the number of fires, so far in 2022, is above the historical average, with which, the management of this episode will be different from that of 2021. pic.twitter.com/zDZRdWU3vc

– Juan David Palacio C (@jdpalacioc) February 8, 2022

From the environmental authority they indicated that, according to measurements and forecasts, this episode will not be as strong as the one that occurred in 2020, but neither will it be as mild as last year, in which there was no restrictive measure.

However, according to how the measurements evolve and external factors such as forest fires that affect air quality, strict measures would be taken.

“It is quite possible that from February 21 there is a pick and plate to cargo vehicles, but it will depend on how the indicators are. It will be time that will tell if additional measures are taken, such as the suspension of the special circulation payment,” Palacio said.

(You may be interested in: A young woman would have been tied up and killed inside her house in Medellín)

The Metropolitan Area made a recommendation to the population to avoid prolonged physical activity outdoors and to use public transport during this period.

“The only solution to improve circulation in the territory, and in all the cities of the world, is the promotion of public transport as the backbone of mobility,” said Palacio.

MEDELLIN

Air Force Ordered to Pay More Than $230 Million in Church Shooting

SAN ANTONIO — 

The U.S. Air Force must pay more than $230 million in damages to survivors and victims’ families of a 2017 Texas church massacre for failing to flag a conviction that might have kept the gunman from legally buying the weapon used in the shooting, a federal judge ruled Monday.

More than two dozen people were killed when Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Kelley, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church, had served in the Air Force before the attack.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez had ruled in July that the Air Force was “60% liable” for the attack because it failed to submit Kelley’s assault conviction during his time in the Air Force to a national database.

FILE – This undated file photo provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows Devin Patrick Kelley.

An Air Force record of the Kelley court-martial says he pleaded guilty to multiple specifications of assault, including striking his wife, choking her with his hands and kicking her. He also was convicted of striking his stepson on the head and body “with a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm.”

In 2012, several months before his conviction in the domestic violence case, Kelley briefly escaped from a mental health center in New Mexico and got in trouble for bringing guns onto a military base and threatening his superiors there, police reports indicate.

Deputies were called to Kelley’s home in New Braunfels in June 2013 about the rape case and investigated for three months, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said. But it appeared that they stopped investigating after they believed Kelley left Texas and moved to Colorado. Reynolds said the case was then listed as inactive.

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel in crimes like assault is supposed to be submitted to the FBI’s Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database.

For unspecified reasons, the Air Force did not provide the information about Kelley as required.

Lawyers for survivors and relatives of those killed had asked for $418 million, while the Justice Department proposed $31.8 million. Messages to the Justice Department, Air Force and the plaintiffs’ legal team were not immediately returned.

The approximately 80 claimants include relatives of those killed and 21 survivors and their families. Authorities put the official death toll at 26 because one of the 25 people killed was pregnant.