Colombia Deploys Troops as Rebel Clashes Kill Over 100 and Displace Thousands

Violence between ELN and FARC dissidents in the Catatumbo region has created a humanitarian crisis, forcing over 32,000 to flee and prompting President Petro to suspend peace talks.

Fighting between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has killed more than 100 people and displaced over 32,000 in northeastern Colombia's Catatumbo region.
President Gustavo Petro has suspended peace talks with the ELN, reactivated arrest warrants for 31 ELN leaders, and declared a state of emergency to address the escalating violence.
The Catatumbo region, a major coca-growing area near the Venezuelan border, has seen civilians targeted, with reports of door-to-door executions and accusations of collaboration with rival groups.
Local governments, including the city of Cúcuta, are struggling to accommodate displaced families, with shelters set up in stadiums and thousands seeking refuge in Venezuela.
The United Nations has called for an immediate cessation of violence, reporting kidnappings, civilians trapped in their homes, and severe humanitarian needs across the region.