The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported on a serious humanitarian crisis in Catatumbo, an area in the department of Norte de Santander in northeast Colombia, where escalating clashes between non-state armed groups have displaced 41,236 people. This conflict not only has impacted the local population, but has also affected Venezuelan migrants trapped in the violence.
According to the report, the majority of displaced individuals have sought refuge in the municipalities of Cúcuta, Tibú, and Ocaña, where living conditions are rapidly deteriorating. At least 12,520 people remain confined in different locations, making it difficult for them to access vital resources such as food, water, and medical care.
Since the violence escalated on January 16, at least 80 targeted killings have been reported, along with 12 injuries, including the assassination of five signatories of the peace agreement. The situation has disrupted the education of 46,032 children, leading to the displacement of nearly 500 teachers in the region.
Unaccompanied minors face particular risks, including the possibility of rights violations, forced recruitment, and gender-based violence. Indigenous communities, especially the Barí people, are in a critical situation, with at least 23 communities under confinement.
Moreover, humanitarian access to the affected areas has been severely hindered by the presence of armed groups and the existence of landmines. This situation has prompted the UN Security Council to express its concern. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, has called on armed groups to cease hostilities and allow humanitarian aid access.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the violence in the region and issued an urgent appeal to protect civilians and restore order in the affected areas. The persistence of these clashes in territories with weak state presence poses serious challenges to the stability and security of the population in Norte de Santander.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
