Colombia: Humanitarian emergency declared in Catatumbo /update 5

Event

On Thursday, April 5, authorities in Norte de Santander declared a humanitarian emergency in 11 municipalities including Convención, El Carmen, El Tarra, Hacarí, San Calixto, Sardinata, Teorama, and Tibú, among others due to rising violence. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has estimated that 20,000 people have been impacted by the upsurge in violence. The government stated the decree was made in order to provide humanitarian aid and public services to those affected.

Context

The ELN and the EPL crime group (Ejército Popular de Liberación; also known as Los Pelusos) are currently involved in armed conflict in Catatumbo over control of an area of coca cultivation previously controlled by the now-demobilized FARC guerrilla group. The situation has escalated considerably since mid-March; according to the UN at least three civilians have been killed.

Catatumbo is located in the northeast of Norte de Santander along the Venezuelan border and includes the following 11 municipalities: Ábrego, Convención, El Carmen, El Tarra, Hacarí, La Playa, Ocaña, San Calixto, Sardinata, Teorama, and Tibú.

Advice

Individuals in Norte de Santander are advised to keep abreast of the situation and postpone nonessential travel to the Catatumbo region until further notice. On a more general note, due to the presence of a number of armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to various parts of the country, including much of Norte de Santander department and other areas along the Venezuelan border.