Colombia: Nearly 60,000 people are estimated to have been displaced

Published at: 23/03/2025 10:39 AM

For more than two months, a new wave of violence has shaken the Catatumbo region, in northeastern Colombia, for which reason nearly 60,000 people have been displaced, according to information released by the State.

The government of Norte de Santander announced that 59,511 people in that territory abandoned their homes, most of them bound for Cucuta, the departmental capital where more than 30,000 are located.

Prensa Latina , explained that 772 people from Catatumba were rescued on humanitarian flights because of difficult access to the areas where they lived or because they were left in the midst of armed clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the 33rd Front.

The number of fatalities is more than 94, of whom four are minors and six peace signatories, while six other ex-combatants are still missing.

For its part, the government of Norte de Santander also announced that the number of people confined to the conflict zone is 16,700, while there are 158 members of armed groups who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.

According to the resident coordinator of the United Nations (UN) in the South American nation, Mireia Villar, the conflict between the two armed groups caused the biggest displacement crisis Colombia has experienced since 2016.

In context, the government declared a state of Internal Commotion in that territory, which empowers the Executive to issue decrees in order to reverse the scenario and provide greater guarantees to the civilian population.

In January, Venezuela, within the framework of cooperation, diplomacy and solidarity, provided assistance to Colombians displaced by fighting between the ELN guerrillas and a FARC dissent in the troubled border region of Catatumbo,

Mazo News Team