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From January to June 2024, UNHCR has confirmed 85 large-scale displacement events, affecting 35,153 individuals (14,905 families). These emergencies primarily impacted rural communities in the departments of Nariño, Chocó, Cauca, Bolívar, and Antioquia, accounting for nearly 94% of the total individuals affected by forced displacement nationwide. This represents a 14% increase in events and a 4% rise in affected individuals compared to the same period in 2023.
While a slight downward trend in events is emerging during the second quarter, the worsening humanitarian situation in the departments of Magdalena, Cesar, and La Guajira is particularly concerning. These areas are experiencing significant impacts due to territorial control disputes between Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, leading to displacements, confinements, and other severe consequences for communities.
During the reporting period, 59 confinement events affecting 59,373 individuals (17,175 families) have also been confirmed. Compared to the first semester of 2023, these figures represent an over 58% increase in the number of affected individuals and a 73% rise in reported events. Chocó continues to experience the highest number of confinements (25 events – 24,572 individuals), followed by Antioquia (5 events – 6,580 individuals), Cauca (5 events – 5,905 individuals), Nariño (5 events – 4,985 individuals), and Bolívar (5 events – 3,796 individuals). The second quarter saw a notable rise in individuals affected by confinements in Antioquia, Bolívar, and Cauca.
New confinements were also reported in Magdalena and Caquetá, attributed to territorial disputes between NSAGs, direct threats, and intimidation of the population. Notably, in May, Caquetá experienced its first large-scale event of the year, affecting approximately 2,300 individuals in Solano municipality, primarily from the Koreguaje Indigenous community, due to intensified clashes between NSAGs in the border area with Putumayo.
However, there has been a recent rise in affected individuals who do not identify as belonging to Indigenous or Afro-Colombian populations, as observed in departments like Bolívar, Arauca, Putumayo, Antioquia, Cauca, and Caquetá, where approximately 23,000 such individuals have been impacted.