Clashes in northern Colombia displace over 30,000 as violence escalates

More than 30,000 people have been displaced in northern Colombia due to ongoing clashes between armed groups, according to a report from the Colombian ombudsman's office.

As of the latest update, at least 32,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes. The majority of the displaced are now in the cities of Cucuta (15,086 people), Ocaña (11,503), and Tiba (5,300), Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media sources.

The ombudsman did not provide details on the number of fatalities but noted that forensic experts are still working to identify the deceased. So far, the remains of 33 individuals have been confirmed. On January 18, William Villamizar, the governor of the Norte de Santander department, reported that at least 80 people had died due to the violence.

The conflict intensified on January 17, when Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the suspension of peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels. This decision followed clashes between the ELN and other armed groups composed of former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the Catatumbo region. Petro condemned the rebels' actions, labelling them as war crimes.

The ELN, which remains the largest active rebel group in Colombia, has been involved in the ongoing conflict since the 1960s. After the Colombian government reached a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, the ELN became the principal remaining armed group in the country. Talks with the ELN started in November 2022 but have been repeatedly suspended and resumed.

By Tamilla Hasanova