Humanitarian crisis in Norte de Santander worsens: 80 dead and four municipalities confined

In an interview with RCN Radio Luis Fernando Niño, High peace advisor of Norte de Santander pointed out that the situation in the department is getting worse every day, the clashes between dissidents and the ELN left a balance of 80 people murdered, 145 displaced refugees in military bases and four confined municipalities: El Tarra, San Pablo, San Juan and Calama.

“The situation is dramatic. Some communities are literally being hunted and many cannot leave their municipalities despite the threats,” Niño said.

So far, the Government and the Public Force have enabled humanitarian shelters in Ocaña and Cúcuta, but a large part of the population is still trapped in conflict zones.

You may be interested in: Governor revealed chilling death toll from conflict between guerrillas in Catatumbo

In La Gabarra, an emblematic municipality in the Catatumbo region, the National Army houses 145 people, including children, who cannot be evacuated by land due to the risk of clashes. Air humanitarian operations, with support from private companies, They evacuated wounded people and 25 children between three and nine years old.

However, Niño points out that a humanitarian corridor was not established due to the refusal of the parties to the conflict to allow the entry of medical missions and international organizations.

The National Government, headed by President Gustavo Petro, evaluates the declaration of a state of internal commotion for Norte de Santander. This measure would streamline resources and reinforce the military presence in critical areas such as: Convention, Tibú, El Tarra and Cúcuta.

Also read: A man was murdered on a public road in Cartagena: his identity is still unknown

The counselor highlighted that humanitarian aid began to arrive on a plane loaded with 20 tons of food and basic necessities that left Catam for the region. Additionally, it seeks to protect signatories of the 2016 Peace Agreement, who were also victims of threats and murders.

Luis Fernando Niño asked the national and international community to make visible the crisis in Catatumbo, a region historically marked by state abandonment. “This emergency is not only humanitarian, it is also structural. “Urgent investment is needed in hospitals, roads and basic services that guarantee decent conditions for the population.”

The Public Force and the Ministry of Defense remain in the area coordinating operations and monitoring the conditions in the confined municipalities. Meanwhile, the communities hope that the Government will act quickly to stop the crisis and guarantee their safety.