Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
18-02-2025
What happened, where and when?
Between January to March, at least 83,167 people were affected by the intensification of clashes between Non-State Armed Groups in the municipalities of Ábrego, Convención, El Tarra, San Calixto, Teorama, Hacarí, Sardinata and Tibú, in Norte de Santander. This escalation of violence generated unprecedented displacement in the region, with 57,756 people forced to flee their territories, highlighting that this is the largest mass displacement recorded in the last 28 years.
Considering this situation, the government declared a state of internal commotion and emergency (Decree 006, 24 January 2025). Due to the exceptional nature of this situation, the Colombian Red Cross-National Society requested the activation of an IFRC-DREF. To note that this is the first time that DREF solicited for this type of emergency, highlighting the exceptional nature of the situation.
The report of the Ombudsman's Office, dated 16 February 2025, warned about the humanitarian crisis in Norte de Santander, Cauca and Chocó due to clashes between non-state armed groups. The conflict left 57,756 people displaced and 25,411 people confined, affecting a total of 83,167 people. In addition to the previously mentioned regions, the Ombudsman's Office documented emergencies in Nariño, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia, Magdalena Medio, Arauca, Meta, Guaviare, Sur de Córdoba, Tolima and Putumayo; therefore, it was estimated that the number of people affected may be much higher.
In view of this situation, the Ombudsman's Office requested the National Government to take protective measures, the international community to reinforce humanitarian support and the armed groups to respect the rights of the population and cease the recruitment of minors.
Norte de Santander:
- 6 January 2025: Multiple clashes and attacks against the civilian population were reported in the Catatumbo sub-region, with violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
- 17 January 2025: The destruction of at least 2,600 explosive devices was reported in Tibú, indicating high contamination by weapons.
- Between January and February 2025: More than 22 security events were documented, including clashes and selective homicides in rural areas, restricting humanitarian access.
The escalation of violence in the Catatumbo region generated a domino effect in other regions, such as the departments of Cauca and Chocó, which were also prioritised through this IFRC DREF.
Cauca:
• 21 January 21 2025: An Early Warning was issued regarding the risk of the Western Bloc Commander Jacobo Arenas expanding into rural areas of Popayán. It warned that the group could impose territorial control, with adverse effects on civilian population.
• February 2025: The advance of the Western Bloc Commander Jacobo Arenas was confirmed in the villages of Los Cerrillos, Las Mercedes, Santa Rosa and La Meseta, generating a risk of confinement and displacement.
Chocó
• 4 January 2025: 558 people from the Afro-descendant communities of Puerto Martínez and Tripicay were conned due to clashes between the security forces and a non-state armed group.
• 6 January 2025: 568 people from Wounaan indigenous communities were conned due to restrictions imposed by an armed group, preventing access to crops and basic services.
• 7 February 2025: Displacement of 226 people from the communities of Puerto Murillo and Fujiadó to Noanamá due to fighting between armed groups.
• 18 February 2025: A 72-hour armed strike was reported in the department by the ELN.