Colombia displacement doubles as Red Cross warns worst humanitarian crisis in a decade

Key Concepts

• Conflict-Related Displacement: The forced movement of people due to armed violence.
• Confinement: A state where civilians are trapped in their villages by armed groups, unable to move freely.
• Total Peace Policy: The ambitious government strategy initiated by President Gustavo Petro to end armed conflict.
• Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) & Drones: Modern, lethal technologies increasingly used by non-state armed groups.
• Dissident Factions: Breakaway groups from former rebel organizations (like the FARC) that continue to engage in illicit activities.

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Escalation of Conflict and Displacement

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Colombia is experiencing a significant deterioration in security. In the past year, conflict-related displacement has doubled, affecting over 235,000 people. Beyond displacement, the phenomenon of "confinement"—where civilians are trapped within their own villages by armed groups—has surged by nearly 100% in 2025, marking the most severe humanitarian situation in a decade.

The ICRC emphasizes that the crisis is defined not only by the sheer volume of victims (killed, injured, or displaced) but by the increasing severity of the impact on these communities.

Drivers of Violence

The 2016 peace deal with the FARC initially provided a period of relative stability. However, the current violence is driven by a power vacuum filled by:

• Dissident Factions: Remnants of former rebel groups.
• Armed Groups: Competing for control over lucrative illegal economies, specifically:
  • Drug trafficking routes.
  • Illegal mining operations.
  • Extortion rackets.

The "Total Peace" Policy and Political Context

The election of President Gustavo Petro was met with optimism regarding his "Total Peace" policy. However, the policy faces intense criticism. Opponents argue that the government's approach has inadvertently provided space for armed groups to consolidate and expand their territorial control rather than disarming them. As the country approaches the next presidential election, security has emerged as the primary political challenge for the incoming administration.

Technological Shifts in Warfare

A particularly alarming trend is the modernization of weaponry used by non-state actors. The report highlights:

• Drones and Explosives: The use of improvised drones and explosive devices has led to nearly 1,000 casualties (deaths and injuries) in the last year, including children.
• Civilian Infrastructure: Armed groups are increasingly occupying civilian spaces, such as schools, and utilizing public areas like football pitches to launch weapons and drones, effectively using the local population as human shields.

Humanitarian Impact and Conclusion

The human cost of this conflict is visible in the capital, Bogota, where murals honor mothers searching for their "disappeared" children—a stark reminder that the cycle of violence remains unbroken.

Alessandro Ampieti, reporting for Al Jazeera, notes that while the ICRC continues to urge armed groups to adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians, the prevailing sentiment among those in conflict zones is one of regression. The data suggests that despite various peace initiatives, Colombia is struggling to contain a resurgence of violence that is becoming increasingly sophisticated and lethal.