On the morning of December 23, 2025, the city of Cúcuta received 11 families, consisting of at least 30 people, who arrived from the village of Mineiro, in the municipality of Tibú, Norte de Santander..
The forced transfer took place in the middle Clashes broke out in the Catatumbo region between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissidents from the 33rd Front of the former FARCaccording to information known to local authorities.
The families arrived in the department’s capital seeking shelter from deteriorating security conditions in their area of origin. According to initial reports Violence also included armed clashes, causing fear among civilians and forcing them to flee their homes. towards an environment that is considered safer.
Given this situation The Ombudsman’s Office called on city authorities to immediately activate humanitarian assistance protocols.
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The company called for ensuring temporary shelter, access to food, psychosocial support and verification of the rights of the displaced people who arrived in the city.
In an official statement, the Ombudsman’s Office said: “We ask the Office of the Mayor of Cúcuta to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to these families. We once again call on the ELN and the dissidents of the 33rd Front to de-escalate the hostilities in Catatumbo, especially now when the families should have some peace.” The news broke after family units were confirmed to move into the city area.
The ombudswoman Iris Marín Ortiz also referred to the events via her account on the social network X. In her statement, she questioned the scope of the ceasefire declarations by armed groups operating in the region. “This expulsion that is taking place today in Catatumbo shows why the ceasefires announced by the ELN and the dissidents of the 33rd Front are completely inadequate, since they do not extend to the hostilities taking place between these two groups,” he explained.
Marín Ortiz explained The main risk to communities does not only come from confrontations with public authoritiesbut from disputes between illegal armed organizations seeking territorial control. “A serious and real risk factor for the population is not so much the hostilities between the public authorities and these groups, but rather between illegal groups,” he pointed out in his message.
The displaced families have initially been housed in rooms provided by local authorities while official characterization is underway. Local officials and relief organizations assessed the health status of household members, including minors and older adults, to determine priority needs.
Catatumbo is one of the most complex regions in terms of public policy in the northeast of the country. In several municipalities, the simultaneous presence of various armed actors has led to restrictions on mobility, threats to community leaders and recurring displacements. Residents in the region report that people in some rural areas are avoiding leaving their homes for fear of becoming involved in confrontations.
The Ombudsman confirmed this The protection of the civilian population is a duty of all actorsand recalled that international humanitarian law sets clear limits on hostilities in areas where communities live. In its statement, the company emphasized the need for a permanent presence of government institutions in the most affected areas.
From Cúcuta, local humanitarian organizations said the influx of displaced people into the city was constant throughout the year, although demand for social care increased at the end of the year. On previous occasions, shelters and sports facilities have been used to accommodate families from Catatumbo.
The situation recorded this December 23rd It joins other episodes of forced mobility documented in Norte de Santander during 2025in a context characterized by armed conflict, illicit economy and control of strategic corridors. The Ombudsman’s Office warned that without effective protective measures and a reduction in hostilities between armed groups, risks to Catatumbo’s rural communities will remain.
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