Inside Colombia’s largest displacement crisis since the 2016 peace accords.
Karina never imagined she would have to leave everything behind. But when violence reached her doorstep in Vereda La Vega, she had no choice but to flee with her four children—12, 10, 9, and 7 years old—desperate to find safety. Now, they live in a makeshift car-shelter in the neighborhood of La Zaranda, far from the home they once knew. Though uncertainty surrounds them, there is a small glimmer of hope—her children have been able to continue their education at Colegio La Sella Sede Benadillo in Ocaña. Karina’s story is one among 55,000 displaced people across Catatumbo who are being torn from their homes, a region engulfed by violence between FARC dissidents and the ELN.
A Region on the Brink: Why Catatumbo Needs Immediate Help
A humanitarian disaster is unfolding in northeastern Colombia. Over 55,000 people have fled their homes in just weeks, making this the largest displacement crisis since the 2016 peace accords.
At the heart of the chaos, families are struggling to survive:
- More than 80 civilians killed
- 46,000 children unable to return to school
- 710 schools closed
- Severe food and water shortages
Despite these alarming numbers, international awareness remains dangerously low.
Why the World Cannot Ignore This Crisis
Catatumbo’s crisis is not just a Colombian issue—it has global consequences:
- Drug Trade and Conflict – The region’s coca production fuels the international cocaine industry, driving violence that extends far beyond Colombia.
- A Humanitarian Domino Effect – Displacement from Catatumbo puts pressure on Venezuela’s already collapsing system, triggering regional instability.
- Forced recruitment of children and Exploitation – Armed groups are actively recruiting displaced children, violating international human rights laws.
This is not just Colombia’s problem. It is a global crisis.
How Children Change Colombia Is Responding
Amid the chaos, we are working with local partners like Fundación Cinco Sentidos to provide:
- Emergency Aid – Food, clean water, and shelter for displaced families.
- Child-Friendly Spaces – Safe havens offering trauma counseling and education.
- Long-Term Advocacy – Pressuring governments to invest in Catatumbo’s future—schools, not coca; peace, not paramilitaries.
We have already started supporting 54 families and 92 children in temporary shelters in Ocaña, Norte de Santander.
Now, we are expanding our efforts in Catatumbo, ensuring displaced children receive the same protection and opportunities to rebuild their futures.
Urgent Call to Action: Stand with Catatumbo
Without immediate action, thousands of children could face:
- Starvation
- Trauma
- Forced recruitment into armed groups
How You Can Help:
A Message of Hope
Karina longs to return home, but fear for her life and the safety of her children keeps her in Ocaña. The memories of what they left behind haunt her, but she knows she must stay strong for her little ones. Through this emergency project and workshops, Karina and her children will find the support they desperately need—safe spaces for healing, psychosocial support, creative workshops to help them process their trauma, and a vital food supplement to keep them nourished. While the road ahead is uncertain, they are not alone. Together, we can help them rebuild their lives with hope, dignity, and the strength to move forward.
Donate now. Advocate today. Be part of the solution
References
Written By: William Bunce (Outreach and Communications Intern at Children Change Colombia)
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2025/2/26/everyone-wants-to-go-back-home-inside-catatumbos-displacement-crisis
- https://www.france24.com/es/am%C3%A9rica-latina/20250209-colombia-los-muertos-en-el-catatumbo-aumentan-a-56-y-los-desplazados-a-m%C3%A1s-de-54-000
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vd7njv4zzo
- https://thecitypaperbogota.com/news/conflict-in-catatumbo-sparks-colombias-worst-humanitarian-crisis-in-decades/
