Key Highlights:
- An explosion of violence has forcibly displaced over 32,000 people along the Venezuela- Colombia border, including at least 1,000 individuals who have fled from Colombia to Venezuela.
- At least 80 people have been killed in the recent violence, with civilians reporting armed groups going door-to-door and launching indiscriminate attacks.
- More than 20,000 people have fled to Cúcuta, including roughly 769 people temporarily sheltering at a large soccer stadium.
Project HOPE’s Impact:
- 198 hygiene kits have distributed to adult men and children in Convención and Cúcuta.
- 186 dignity and hygiene kits have been distributed to displaced women and girls of reproductive age in Convención and Cúcuta.
- 195 birth kits have been distributed to displaced pregnant and postpartum women
- At partner health clinics, over 1,330 people in Cúcuta and Ocaña were treated with medicines donated by Project HOPE.
Situation Overview
A severe humanitarian crisis has erupted following the intensification of violence and subsequent mass displacement of civilians in the Catatumbo region in Colombia’s Norte de Santander department. Conflict between armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has steadily increased since January 15, 2025. The violence has resulted in at least 80 deaths and the displacement of over 32,000 individuals, including approximately 1,000 people seeking refuge in Venezuela’s Táchira and Zulia states. In response, Colombia’s president has declared a state of emergency and an interior disturbance, deployed an additional 600 military personnel to the region, and reissued arrest warrants for 31 ELN leaders, effectively suspending ongoing peace negotiations.
The crisis has significantly impacted local health systems, overwhelming facilities with an influx of displaced persons in need of health services and causing shortages of essential medical supplies. The Colombian Departmental Health Institute (IDS from its Spanish acronym) has declared a yellow hospital alert, mobilized response teams, and is coordinating with national and international humanitarian partners and non- governmental organizations (NGOs).
There is also a concerning rise in disease outbreaks, including dengue fever, particularly in the municipalities of Ocaña and Cúcuta, increasing the need for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) support. As more families are forced to live in overcrowded conditions, the threat of additional infectious disease outbreaks demands increased attention from humanitarian partners.
The prolonged conflict and displacement crisis is increasing the demand for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, as families and children begin to cope with the trauma of the past week and health workers struggle with heightened workloads, shortages of supplies, and personal stress.
Addressing the needs of groups made vulnerable during this humanitarian crisis — especially children, women, and older adults — must be a top priority for all humanitarian actors to protect those most at risk. In addition, collaborative efforts between government agencies, NGOs, international organizations, and local partners will be critical to ensuring a sustainable and effective response to this ongoing crisis.