Colombia: 30 days in limbo amid escalating armed conflict

Approximately 80,000 people in northeastern Colombia are suffering the devastating consequences of armed conflict which abruptly escalated on the 16th of January this year.

Caught in the crossfire between organized armed groups, these communities face grave threats and urgent humanitarian needs. Protection of civilians and access to aid must be prioritized, urges the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

“Colombia cannot accept this situation as the new normal. The urgent and comprehensive protection of civilians, in Catatumbo, and throughout the nation, must be prioritised by the government,” said Giovanni Rizzo, the NRC’s country director in Colombia.

The staggering number of people forcibly displaced in Catatumbo in just 30 days exceeds the total number of people displaced in similar circumstances nationwide throughout the entire year of 2024. Without plans for a safe return, many remain displaced, facing confusion, uncertainty, and dwindling hopes of rebuilding their livelihoods.

“To leave your roots because of war, to bury family lost to a conflict they didn’t choose, this is the tragedy we face,” a displaced man whose three family members were killed in the Catatumbo region in the north-east of the country, told NRC.

Thousands of lives are also at risk as organized armed groups restrict access to vital humanitarian assistance. With food supplies exhausted, families are trapped and entirely reliant on dwindling resources. Unimpeded humanitarian access is crucial to prevent widespread suffering and a deepening crisis. Under these dire circumstances, humanitarian aid is facing immense pressure, unable to meet all the needs of the affected population.

“We have not seen such a humanitarian on this scale in Colombia in almost 30 years. The recent government’s declaration of a ‘state of internal commotion’ makes it clear: this escalating crisis requires additional international solidarity,” said Rizzo.

The humanitarian crisis in Catatumbo is also a stark and urgent reminder of Colombia’s vulnerability. With a new displacement risk alert issued by the Ombudsman’s Office for seven of the country’s 32 departments, the threat of a far greater humanitarian crisis looms. Immediate action is critical to avert widespread suffering.

“We cannot allow this to happen. Any further escalation would unleash immense suffering, destroy communities, and extinguish hopes for a better future. The worsening violence serves no one’s interest in the region. While the Colombian government is striving to meet its obligations, the international community should immediately mobilize substantial financial aid to save lives, not only in Catatumbo but wherever civilians are under attack in Colombia,” said Rizzo.