Photo by the Luis Carlos Pérez Collective Lawyers Corporation (CCALCP).
Update
PBI-Colombia has posted on social media:
“We join the urgent call of the organizations and social movements that during #CaravanaHumanitaria have demanded Humanitarian Agreements Now, an end to human rights violations, and the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. #Peace Catatumbo”
Proposals from communities
Colombia Informa now reports: “The social organizations and the Catatumbo Humanitarian and Peacebuilding Roundtable, with the support of the organizations attending on February 4, propose a route of action that includes:
-Call to de-escalate the armed conflict and the cessation of hostilities.
-Demand the implementation of mechanisms to protect the civilian population.
-Abide by the 7 Humanitarian Minimums and the Humanitarian Agreement for Catatumbo.
-Develop immediate humanitarian actions, such as dignified, safe, collective and guaranteed returns, verification commissions and humanitarian corridors, among others.
-Demand urgent attention from the national government to the humanitarian crisis.
-Launch the Humanitarian Commission in response to the letter of the social organizations of January 19, 2025, to the actors in confrontation.”
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La FM reports: “A humanitarian caravan that left several days ago from various parts of the country, arrived in the municipality of El Tarra [in the department of Norte de Santander in the Catatumbo region] to deliver aid and verify the condition of the communities that have been confined and displaced for several days.”
That article adds: “[A request] made by communal organizations is the installation of a humanitarian corridor in the area, which allows the entry of aid, food kits and the exit of people injured, confined and in poor conditions due to the armed confrontation in Catatumbo.”
The Associated Press further notes: “A humanitarian caravan made up of international organizations, social organizations, the Catholic Church and senators entered Catatumbo, the troubled region of northeastern Colombia on Tuesday [February 4], where two armed actors are clashing, leaving 50,000 displaced and claiming the lives of more than 80 people.”
“The humanitarian caravan seeks to address the situation of violence affecting the civilian population and call on the armed actors to cease the fighting.”
That article also explains: “Catatumbo is a strategic area due to its proximity to the border with Venezuela, its abundant coca leaf fields and the low state presence. President Gustavo Petro declared a ‘state of internal commotion’ in January, an extraordinary legal figure, promising to restore control and bring social investment to the region.”
Earlier in the day, El Pais reported: “In response to the call made by some social organizations, the [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia] FARC dissidents and the National Liberation Army (ELN) assured that they will not attack the humanitarian caravan ‘Let’s embrace Catatumbo’, which is heading on Tuesday morning to the municipality of El Tarra, in that region. …The caravan left from several cities in the country such as Bogotá, Barrancabermeja, Tibú and Ocaña, as well as some townships in the region.”
Implications
The Washington Post has commented: “[The fighting between the ELN and FARC dissidents] is a crushing setback for the ‘total peace’ policy of Colombia’s first leftist president, Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla member who ran on promises to negotiate peace deals with the country’s armed groups. Analysts say it could further threaten relations between Colombia and its most important ally and benefactor — the United States, where President Donald Trump’s allies have criticized Petro’s peace negotiations and inability to control the cocaine trade.”
It further notes: “[The violence] also underscores a deeper struggle to fully implement the country’s 2016 peace accords… Since the signing of the agreement, at least 441 former combatants have been killed. …The growing threats against these former combatants could further destabilize the country and erode its fragile peace.”
We continue to follow this.
Tweet: “#This Hour Begins Humanitarian Caravan of Catatumbo Initiative driven by social and peasant organizations of the territory national organizations and human rights defenders accompany the journey to Ocaña – Tarra #Let’s Embrace Catatumbo #Peace Catatumbo
Further reading: PBI-Colombia amplifies ASCAMCAT statement about violence by armed groups in Catatumbo (January 21, 2025), PBI-Colombia accompanies CCALCP lawyers collective at community meeting in Caño Indio, Catatumbo on the Peace Agreement (December 3, 2021), PBI-Colombia accompanies Verification Mission to assess and report on the humanitarian crisis in Catatumbo (February 26, 2020).
