‘They have 24 hours to leave the area’: Personería of Cúcuta denounces threats to community leaders in Catatumbo

The public order situation in the Catatumbo region continues to be critical due to the intense armed clashes between the ELN and the FARC dissidentsespecially in rural areas of the municipalities of Tibu and El Tarra. The fighting has led to a worsening of forced displacement and the confinement of entire communities.

One of the most affected points is the Filogringowhere armed confrontations have intensified for several days, forcing numerous families to abandon their homes for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

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Threats against social leaders

The Personería of Cúcutaan entity that serves displaced communities, also warned about the direct threats against social and community leaders in the region. According to the organization, several of them have had to urgently leave their territories for fear of being killed.

Ludy Paezrepresentative of Cúcuta, explained in dialogue with The FM that in many cases the armed groups give them extremely short periods to leave the area.

“People leave the territory to avoid being caught in the middle of the bullets. However, there is a serious situation with the social and community leaders, who were given less than 24 hours by the armed groups to leave and, in these types of situations, they must leave, they have no other choice,” said the Public Ministry official.

Movement towards urban areas

The person indicated that this situation has caused an increase in displacement towards the urban area of ​​Tibú and towards the city ​​of Cúcutawhere affected people are receiving humanitarian aid and comprehensive assistance by authorities and support organizations.

Given this panorama, the Personería made an urgent call to the national government so that measures are adopted to guarantee the security of displaced communities and prevent the deepening of the humanitarian crisis.

“There are children, pregnant women and older adults in very difficult conditions. An urgent military intervention is necessary to stabilize the area and prevent more people from continuing to be displaced,” Páez warned.

SOS from mayors and call to respect IHL

Amid the escalation of violence, the mayors of Tibu and The Tarra They issued a call for help to cease hostilities in Catatumbo and respect the civilian population.

Richard Claromayor of Tibú, demanded humanitarian guarantees and respect for the medical mission, which has also been affected during the clashes.

“We demand that the civil community be excluded from the war, that international humanitarian law be respected and that the medical mission not be touched. It is essential that the installation of a humanitarian corridor be allowed,” said the president.

For its part, Eyder Robles Ortizmayor of El Tarra, assured that in the Filogringo sector the situation is especially serious, to the point that several injured people could not be evacuated due to the strong territorial control exercised by illegal armed groups.

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Military operations in the area

Faced with this scenario, the National Army confirmed that they are moving forward ground and air operations with the aim of recovering control and security in Filogringo, considered one of the most neuralgic points of the armed conflict in Catatumbo.

Meanwhile, communities continue to wait for solutions that will stop the violence and comprehensively address a humanitarian crisis that continues to deepen in the northeast of the country.