What's happened
The ICRC and Reuters report show 2025 casualties and widespread displacement across Colombia amid ongoing clashes between guerrillas, criminal groups, and security forces. Explosives injuries, disappearances, and confinement have escalated, with elections looming and civilians bearing the brunt.
What's behind the headline?
The current humanitarian portrait
- 2025 has seen the worst humanitarian consequences in a decade, driven by displacement, confinements, and explosive violence.
- Civilians are disproportionately affected by clashes over drug-trafficking routes and natural resources.
- The political climate is impacted by security concerns ahead of elections, with multiple attacks and human rights concerns highlighted by the UN and Red Cross.
What this signals for policy and civilians
- The deterioration is likely to persist as armed groups regroup and challenge state authority in rural areas.
- Peace talks may be strained by continuing violence and accusations of ceasefire misuse by armed actors.
- International humanitarian law obligations are urged to be respected to protect civilians.
How we got here
Colombia’s six-decade conflict has included leftist guerrillas, criminal groups, and state forces vying for control of rural areas linked to cocaine and gold. The 2025 humanitarian picture follows a fragile 2016 peace accord with FARC and a recent shift in dynamics as smaller groups attempt to fill vacuums in formerly controlled zones.
Our analysis
Reuters reports on Colombia’s 2025 humanitarian situation; Al Jazeera notes ICRC documentation of displacement and injuries; AP News highlights the 2025 surge in violent incidents and the political violence surrounding elections. Each emphasizes civilian impact and the need for dialogue and protection of civilians.
Go deeper
- How is the security picture evolving in rural Colombia?
- What measures are humanitarian groups calling for ahead of the elections?
- Which areas are seeing the sharpest increases in displacement?
More on these topics
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Colombia - Country in South America
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a transcontinental country largely in the north of South America, with territories in North America.
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International Committee of the Red Cross - Non-profit
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland, and a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate.
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Gustavo Petro - Member of the Senate of Colombia
Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego is a Colombian politician, ex guerrilla member and a presidential candidate who previously served as mayor of Bogotá. A left-wing politician, Petro was a member of the revolutionary group M-19 in the 1980s.