Colombia Crisis

Colombia Map
Source: OCHA/ReliefWeb

The country

Gaining independence from Spain in 1810, Colombia is a country in the northern part of South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The country shares land borders with Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. Its capital is Bogota. Colombia covers an area of 1,138,910 square kilometers. In 2022, the country had an estimated population of about 49 million people, making it the second most populous state in South America after Brazil. Colombia is a middle-income country and one of the oldest democracies in Latin America.

The humanitarian situation

Six years after the peace accord between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was signed, the humanitarian situation in Colombia is still marked by large scale internal displacement and insecurity due to armed violence. The country has endured half a century of intense armed conflict, perpetuated by widespread illegal drug production and trafficking and rooted in territorial control by armed groups. The increased impact of natural hazards related to climate change and the integration of 2.5 million Venezuelan refugees are also driving humanitarian needs in Colombia.

As of 2022, there were 5.2 million internally displaced persons. More than 142,000 Colombian refugees and some 68,000 asylum seekers are hosted in third countries. Nearly 110,000 people have been displaced or confined by the armed conflict in 2021 alone. In 2022, high levels of violence worsened the humanitarian crisis in some regions. At least 162,000 people were uprooted by large scale displacement or confined in their communities by violence involving illegal armed groups.

Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities are facing increased protection risks.  In the first three months of 2023, more than 25,000 people have been newly displaced or forcibly confined due to violence.  Despite Indigenous People representing only 4 percent of Colombia’s population, they comprised more than 40 percent of the people affected by humanitarian emergencies of mass displacement and confinement in 2022.  

Colombia is the country most impacted by the Venezuela crisis, hosting some 2.5 million of the 6.8 million Venezuelans who have sought refuge outside their country. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 7.7 million people in Colombia will need humanitarian assistance in 2023; among them are 2.4 million children.

Colombia LocationThe security situation

After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian government signed in November 2016 a final peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which was subsequently ratified by the Colombian Congress. The peace agreement calls for members of the FARC to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The demobilization of the largest rebel group and the formation of a new political party are some of the most important results of the peacebuilding process.  The Truth Commission, established in 2016 as part of the peace agreement, published its final report on June 28, 2022. The 800-page document addresses human rights violations and events during the armed conflict between 1986 and 2016.

However, armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), dissidents of the FARC, paramilitary successor groups and drug-trafficking gangs continue to operate in the country. Civilians in various parts of Colombia suffer serious human rights abuses at the hands of those armed groups.  In the shadow of the FARC and the Colombian government peace accord other irregular armed groups increased their actions, particularly in rural areas. These armed groups are competing for territorial control and illicit economies in territories previously controlled by the FARC. Violent clashes between the new armed groups are causing the majority of new humanitarian needs.

The ELN rebel group is the nation's largest remaining guerrilla organization. Recently, Colombia's government and the ELN agreed to restart peace talks in November 2022.  The United Nations commended the decision and urged both parties to seize the opportunity to bring an end to a deadly conflict whose resolution is critical for expanding the scope of peace in Colombia. On November 21, a first round of peace negotiations began.

Despite decades of internal conflict and security challenges related to illicit economies, Colombia maintains rather strong and independent democratic institutions. In August 2022, the country saw a peaceful transition to the newly elected president Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego. The Colombian government is working to re-establish state control in various areas through an approach combining security as well as economic and social development.

Since taking office, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has made great efforts to promote peace in the country. On December 31, 2022 the president announced the beginning of a bilateral ceasefire with five illegal armed groups: the ELN, Segunda Marquetalia, Estado Mayor Central, the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC) and the Sierra Nevada group. The six-month ceasefire began on January 1, 2023 and will last until June 30, 2023. The development renews hope for comprehensive peace in Colombia.

Donations

Your donation for the Colombia emergency can help United Nations agencies, international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their local partners to rapidly provide water, food, medicine, shelter and other aid to the people who need it most.

There are currently few active appeals for the Colombia crisis. You may also consider an un-earmarked donation to organizations that are active in the country or an earmarked donation for the Venezuela refugee crisis.

Further Information

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