Colombia plunges back into horror: the Red Cross warns of the worst humanitarian crisis in ten years

The humanitarian situation in Colombia reached its worst point in a decade in 2025, according to a report published Tuesday by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The organization denounces an intensification of armed violence and a growing disregard for humanitarian law by the groups involved in the conflict.

For over sixty years, Colombia has faced an internal conflict pitting state forces against various leftist guerrillas, dissident groups, and criminal organizations. These factions vie for control of strategic territories linked to drug trafficking and illegal gold mining.

According to the Red Cross, civilian populations are paying a particularly heavy price. Clashes are escalating in several regions of the country, causing massive population displacements, travel restrictions, and a worsening of living conditions in rural areas.

In Cúcuta, families displaced by fighting between National Liberation Army rebels and dissidents from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia received emergency aid including food and mattresses. These scenes illustrate the growing scale of the humanitarian crisis affecting several regions of the country.

The report also highlights that some armed groups are increasingly disregarding the rules of international humanitarian law, directly endangering civilians. Residents of many areas live under the constant threat of fighting, landmines, kidnapping, and extortion.

This deteriorating situation poses a major challenge for the Colombian authorities, who are struggling to contain the violence despite several attempts at negotiation with armed groups. For the Red Cross, the priority now remains the protection of civilians, while the prospects for a rapid improvement remain uncertain.