Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a strong condemnation of the escalating violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo region, which borders Venezuela. The human rights organization has called for swift measures to be enacted to protect civilians amidst severe human rights abuses and the displacement of tens of thousands of residents.
The region has seen a marked increase in deadly confrontations between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). These clashes have forced over 56,000 people to flee their homes since January 2025, making it one of the largest mass displacements in Colombia’s recent history, as reported by HRW.
HRW highlights that the ELN has ramped up its activities to reestablish territorial dominance in Catatumbo, targeting civilians they suspect of affiliation with adversary groups. FARC dissidents, on the other hand, have been implicated in grave offences such as forced labor and child recruitment. The humanitarian crisis in the region is severe, with displaced families suffering from a lack of food, shelter, and medical care. Many communities remain confined due to the ongoing violence.
The Catatumbo region holds strategic importance because of its role in drug production and trafficking, with various factions jostling for control over lucrative coca crops and smuggling routes. This volatile mix has intensified hostilities since January 2025 after a period of uneasy coexistence among groups since 2018. Renewed fighting has primarily impacted civilians, including social leaders and former FARC combatants who had been part of Colombia’s 2016 peace accord.
Socioeconomic factors exacerbate the dire conditions in Catatumbo. Extreme poverty, poor infrastructure, and limited access to essential services like healthcare and education form the daily reality for many residents. Militarization by both state and non-state forces adds to the instability. Promises by Colombian authorities to safeguard civilians and provide evacuation remain inadequate to tackle the displacement and persistent risks adequately as outlined in an analysis by NACLA.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the United Nations, have documented abuses in Catatumbo, calling for adherence to international humanitarian law. Despite temporary reductions in military operations following a decrease in coca eradication efforts in 2023, clashes have resurged with intensity.
This crisis highlights the broader issues faced in Colombia’s post-conflict period. Though the 2016 peace agreement sought to reintegrate former combatants, regions like Catatumbo continue to suffer from lingering violence due to unresolved territorial conflicts and inadequate state intervention. HRW’s appeal stresses the need for comprehensive solutions that not only protect civilians but also tackle the underlying socio-economic vulnerabilities contributing to this ongoing crisis.