ReliefWeb

COLOMBIA

• After more than 50 years of armed conflict, the possibility exists that a peace agreement will soon be reached between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) -the most important guerrilla group (but not the only one). The signature of a peace agreement will be a clear opportunity to build sustainable peace.
• However, civilians continue to be affected by the humanitarian consequences of ongoing violence. Other active armed groups are ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional), EPL (Ejército Popular de Liberación) and the armed groups related to the demobilization of paramilitaries which took place in 2005-2008 (i.e. post- demobilization armed groups). The activities of these groups has increased since the start of the peace dialogue between FARC and Colombian Government.
• The accumulated number of IDPs is 6.8 Million people (Source: UARIV- National Unit for the Attention of and Rehabilitation of Victims)
• The recent (June 23) bilateral ceasefire agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC removes a major stumbling block and may be an indication that the final peace agreement will soon be signed.
• Nevertheless, Colombia will likely continue in the medium term to face the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, which could even become more complex and acute in the short term in places where other armed actors compete for control of territories and resources. Once the peace agreement is signed the FARC will concentrate their troops in 29 places, leaving many areas open to the incursion of other armed groups if the State does not take control.

ECUADOR

• 171 500 Colombians have requested asylum since 2000, and a total of 60 500 had been recognized as refugees in 2014 (Government sources). But because many asylum-seekers are unaware of the requirements to apply for refugee status, some experts suggest that a large population of invisible, undocumented Colombian asylum-seekers resides in Ecuador.

VENEZUELA

• Venezuela has recognized 5 052 Colombian refugees, but UNHCR estimates that there are 168 548 Colombians in need of international protection (refugees not recognized) in Venezuela. The precarious situation in Venezuela in terms of access to food, medicines and basic items is specifically critical for these persons in need of international protection, as they are not recognized as Venezuelan citizens and so their access to food and non food items as well as medicines is restricted.