Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Ongoing territorial disputes among non-state armed groups in Colombia's Catatumbo region have resulted in the most severe humanitarian crisis of the past decade, affecting much of the subregion's population since January 2025. The threat of new armed actors entering the area increases risks for tens of thousands living in dispersed rural zones.
Reports highlight increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to deploy explosives, altering violence patterns and raising dangers for civilians and humanitarian workers. This escalation has fractured social ties, undermining community cohesion and local protection systems.
Local authorities reportedly lack sufficient financial resources to respond to recurring emergencies, and significant cuts in international cooperation funding have further diminished response capacity. Additionally, growing stigmatization of affected communities increases their vulnerability and obstructs access to protective and assistance services.
Armed control over volatile areas, especially in the Tibú-El Tarra corridors, has severely limited humanitarian access, restricting monitoring, damage registration, and delivery of aid to the most exposed populations. The worsening situation in neighboring Venezuela is increasing pressure on border municipalities, which serve as reception and transit points, amplifying cross-border protection risks and reinforcing illicit economies controlled by armed groups.
Given the regional scale of the crisis, there is a call for coordinated responses that go beyond departmental boundaries and address the underlying factors driving conflict and displacement.