Escalating Violence in Colombia Displaces Thousands Amid Renewed Rebel Clashes
At least 80 people have died and over 18,000 have been forced to flee their homes in Colombia due to escalating violence between rival guerrilla groups in the Catatumbo region. Reports from the United Nations indicate that approximately 1,000 residents of a border village have crossed into neighboring Venezuela to escape the turmoil exacerbated by clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN), a longstanding rebel group, and a faction of the disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), known as FARC-EMC.
This latest wave of violence erupted last week as both groups sought control over lucrative drug trafficking routes in a region responsible for an estimated 15% of Colombia's coca production. Civilians caught in the crossfire have reported intense firefights and are living in constant fear, as community leader Jaime Botero from the town of TibĂș described. Today's scenes from Tres Bocas, a border village in the area, illustrate a once-thriving community now reduced to a ghost town, with residents fleeing for their safety.
The situation has grown more dire following the ELN's attacks on civilians, which they accused of collaborating with FARC-EMC. Many victims have fled their homes amid reports of forced removals and brutal assaults. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has since suspended peace talks with the ELN, accusing the group of war crimes and vowing to issue an emergency decree for expedited legislation in response to the escalating crisis.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence, emphasizing the need for an immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and calling for unhindered humanitarian access to the affected regions. His deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, urged all armed groups to respect civilian rights, highlighting the recent killings of two human rights defenders in Catatumbo.
As the violence continues to escalate, the plight of the civilians remains critical, with many displaced individuals now seeking refuge across borders and international attention focusing on the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in these troubled areas.
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