The University of Catatumbo's inception four years ago symbolized hope for a region marred by conflict and poverty. However, recent violence has unraveled these aspirations. Over 55,000 people have been displaced following clashes between FARC dissidents and the National Liberation Army (ELN) that began on January 18. This exodus from Catatumbo, a largely rural area, has devastated the local economy and placed immense pressure on the nearby city of Cucuta, now sheltering 27,000 of the displaced.
Peace talks with the ELN, intended to bring stability to Colombia, have been repeatedly interrupted by violence. President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" policy faces significant challenges, as evidenced by the ongoing conflict. Colombia's complex history of over six decades of internal strife between government forces, left-wing rebels, criminal networks, and right-wing paramilitaries continues to thwart efforts for lasting peace. The ELN has exacerbated tensions by releasing photos that claim to show FARC collaborators, including the husband of a volunteer.
The violence in Catatumbo highlights the difficulties in achieving sustainable peace in Colombia. The country remains the largest global source of cocaine, with coca as its raw ingredient. "Unless the dominance of coca over the territory's financial and administrative dynamic changes, nothing will be able to compete with it," said Albeiro Bohorquez, an adviser to the mayor’s office in Cucuta. This persistent issue underscores the challenges faced by governmental and non-governmental entities striving for peace.
The General Santander Stadium in Cucuta has been transformed into a humanitarian aid center, offering food, clothing, and basic medical care to those displaced. Despite these efforts, resources are dwindling. "The budget is already running out," commented Lusestella Maldonado, a volunteer for the mayor’s office. "Obviously we don’t have many resources, and every day we see more and more displacement. The problem is growing."
The local government and nonprofits in Cucuta are stretched thin by the crisis. The mayor's office reports that approximately 280 displaced individuals are staying in a shelter, while 1,330 are housed in local hotels. To mitigate the situation, the Colombian government has imposed additional taxes on coal and oil to fund relief efforts.
Fernando Sandoval Sanchez, the director of the Colombian Civil Defense, noted the unprecedented scale of displacement:
"We haven’t seen this kind of displacement before… So many people taken from their homes, from their land, from their belongings."
The crisis in Catatumbo is a stark reminder of Colombia's ongoing struggle with violence and instability. A young man from Tibu described the current situation:
"Right now they are still fighting, removing people, going house to house… They’ve already killed many of our friends."
Despite the adversity, there remains a deep longing for return among those affected. "Everyone wants to go back home," said one young man from Tibu. Another added a note of hope:
"You have to have faith."
The need for state intervention is evident. Bohorquez emphasized:
"This conflict will only stop on the day when the apparatus of the state really arrives in the territory."
