Colombia

20 May 2025

In the first quarter of 2025, the number of people that armed conflict and violence affected in Colombia (748,000) was four times higher than in the same period in 2024. The primary humanitarian consequences included forced displacement, confinement, and movement restrictions. In Cauca and Chocó departments, located in the Pacific region of western Colombia, non-state armed group (NSAG) sieges and attacks have put nearly 40,200 people under confinement. This is the largest number of any department in the country. The number of displaced people in Catatumbo subregion, Norte de Santander department, also increased by 20% during the first three months of 2025, reaching 58,032, because of fighting between NSAGs. Insecurity significantly limits access to humanitarian aid for affected people in a context where humanitarian organisations are experiencing increasing operational constraints. The people affected require access to shelter, food, and protection services. (OCHA 16/05/2025, OCHA Accessed 20/05/2025, ACLED Accessed 20/05/2025)

12 May 2025

Since early May 2025, severe flooding has affected more than 17,000 people in 19 of the 29 municipalities in Meta department, central Colombia. Between 4–6 May, Puerto Lleras, the fourth-largest municipality in the department, experienced flash floods from the overflowing of the Ariari and Iraca Rivers, affecting over 8,000 people and 90% of its territory. The floods severely damaged homes, road infrastructure, and agricultural lands, including hectares of crops in some municipalities, and caused livestock losses. This could result in significant livelihood losses, particularly for those who depend on agriculture for their income. Although the response is underway, it is happening at a time when other departments are also facing heavy rain, floods, and landslides, making the national response even more limited. Affected people urgently require assistance with food, shelter, NFIs, and WASH services.
(OCHA 09/05/2025, Radio Nacional 07/05/2025, ERCC accessed 14/05/2025)

25 February 2025

Since 11 February 2025, heavy rains have caused widespread damage in the department of Nariño, southwestern Colombia, affecting around 19,000 people by 21 February. Heavy rains and flooding have destroyed homes and public infrastructure and caused crop and livelihood losses. The municipalities of Barbacoas, Roberto Payán, and Tumaco have been the hardest hit. In Tumaco, where a state of emergency has been declared, damage to at least 15 educational institutions has forced school closures, affecting more than 2,600 students. The floods have heightened the challenges faced by communities in Nariño, particularly among agricultural, Afrodescendant, and Indigenous groups. The most urgent needs include food, safe water, healthcare, and education. (ET 20/02/2025, ECHO 24/02/2025, OCHA 21/02/2025)

17 February 2025

Since January 2025, people living in Chocó department, western Colombia, have been facing increasing insecurity owing to non-state armed group activity. These include attacks on civilians, clashes among armed groups, and movement restrictions and confinements. Since the beginning of February, fighting between armed groups in southern Chocó has displaced around 5,000 individuals. In mid-February, the armed group National Liberation Army (ELN) announced an armed strike in the department, ordering the population to remain indoors. The strike has been affecting around 430,000 people. Coupled with the increasing insecurity, the armed strike is hampering people's access to services and assistance. Communities urgently need food, health services, and protection. (OCHA accessed 19/02/2025, Caracol Radio 18/02/2025, El Colombiano 17/02/2025)

20 January 2025

Since mid-January 2025, the Catatumbo region in Norte de Santander, Colombia, has been experiencing intensified violence. Two non-state armed groups – the National Liberation Army and dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – have been engaged in conflict, leading to the displacement of over 18,700 people and the confinement of 1,260 individuals. Among those affected are Indigenous communities, Venezuelan refugees, and local communities. Thousands have sought refuge in shelters in Cúcuta, Ocaña, and Tibú, while others fled across the border to Venezuela.

Armed group activity, mobility restrictions, and targeted attacks have disrupted basic services, electricity, and access to healthcare. Humanitarian needs remain acute, including food, shelter, water, and healthcare. This violence reflects a broader deterioration across Colombia, with multiple frontlines escalating simultaneously, increasing protection risks for peace accord signatories and community leaders.

(OCHA 20/01/2025, ECHO 22/01/2025, CNN 20/01/2025)

11 November 2024

Heavy rains in Colombia have led to widespread flooding in recent weeks, affecting over 230,000 people by 11 November 2024 and forcing the Government to declare a national state of disaster. The hardest-hit areas include Chocó department in the west, where riverine flooding has restricted mobility and isolated towns, and La Guajira department in the north, where heavy rains have blocked main roads and destroyed Indigenous communities' crops. People in both departments require humanitarian aid to access food and healthcare services. (CNN 10/11/2024, France 24 11/11/2024, El Colombiano 10/11/2024)

20 May 2024

2023 recorded 58,469 people displaced and 100,402 people confined in Colombia, a 14% decrease and 43% increase, respectively, compared to 2022. Clashes between non-state armed groups and insecurity were the primary causes behind both. Departments such as Cauca, Chocó, and Valle del Cauca, in western Colombia were the regions most affected. Those currently displaced and confined require access to food, WASH services, shelter, and ways to return to their homes and daily lives. (UNHCR 20/05/2024, IDMC accessed 21/05/2024)