BOGOTÁ, Colombia - The breakdown in peace talks between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army has triggered a horrific escalation of violence that killed more than 80 people and injured at least 20 others in northeast Colombia, said William Villamizar, governor of North Santander.
The violence, whose epicenter is the strife-plagued Catatumbo region along the border with Venezuela, has left thousands of locals displaced. Reports from the area confirmed widespread panic as families were fleeing on foot, by motorcycle, or in jammed vehicles to get away from increasing clashes. Among the dead are community leader Carmelo Guerrero and seven other villagers who were calling for peace, an official report by the government ombudsman agency issued late Saturday revealed.
Mass Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis in Catatumbo
The violence has turned the long-embattled Catatumbo region into its epicenter. Villages were abandoned by the civilian population, with hundreds taking government-run shelters or nearby mountains for cover. "We were caught in the crossfire," said Juan Gutiérrez, who fled to a shelter in the town of Tibú. "We didn't even have time to take our belongings, and we were forced to run. I hope the government doesn't forget us because, honestly, here in this shelter we feel that it has."
The Colombian army has intensified its efforts to rescue the stranded families, and on Sunday, it managed to evacuate dozens of people, including a family whose pet dog was rescued. Helicopters have been deployed to speed up the operations.
Government Response: Calls for Peace and Aid Deployment
In response to the crisis, Defense Minister Iván Velásquez visited the northeastern town of Cúcuta, calling on armed groups to lay down their weapons and put civilian safety first. "The priority is to save lives and guarantee the security of communities," he said, while confirming the deployment of additional troops throughout the region.
The authorities announced the delivery of 10 tons of food and hygiene kits to support some 5,000 displaced people in Ocaña and Tibú. Governor Villamizar called for immediate international assistance, underlining the dire situation: "Entire families are fleeing with nothing. They are arriving in trucks, on foot—whatever means they can find—to avoid becoming victims of this conflict."
Root Causes: ELN-FARC Clashes for Control
Tensions have also been heightened because of the continuing fight by the ELN against dissident ranks of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia for lucrative coca plantations in Catatumbo, a region that is crucial for the illicit drug trade in Colombia. In a communique issued Saturday, the ELN blamed dissident members of the FARC for the murder of various people, including those responsible for killing a couple and their 9-month-old baby on January 15, and it justified armed retaliation.
The government of Colombia opened a humanitarian corridor between Tibú and Cúcuta, where the civilian population is allowed to cross safely. Army commander Gen. Luis Emilio Cardozo Santamaría confirmed that urban troops had been deployed to secure high-risk areas and preserve order in municipal capitals.
The Failure of Peace Talks with the ELN
The government of Colombia has engaged in five different peace negotiations with the ELN, all of which collapsed due to recurring violence. The ELN has insisted it wants to be recognized as a political organization, a danger against which critics caution.
Friday's suspension of peace talks marked the second breakup in less than a year. The municipal leaders, like José Trinidad from Convención, were appealing for the return of the two delegations to the negotiation table and calling on them to do everything possible to avoid the extension of so much suffering. "This crisis is unbearable," Trinidad said. "We need a resolution so that civilians don't continue to bear the brunt of this conflict."
Call for Global Attention and Support
As violence escalates, the humanitarian crisis in Catatumbo underscores the urgent need for international aid and diplomatic intervention. The failure to secure peace threatens not only the region’s stability but also Colombia’s broader efforts to end decades of armed conflict.