Clashes between irregular armed forces have left at least 80 people dead and thousands displaced.

On Tuesday, the Office in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the situation in the Catatumbo region, where clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a dissident faction of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have left at least 80 people dead.

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Among the victims of the violence are two human rights defenders: Carmelo Guerrero and Pedro Ropero. Threats have also been reported against social leaders in the region, many of whom, along with their families, have been displaced to Ocaña and Cucuta.

“The Office in Colombia of the OHCHR condemns the serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and abuses committed by non-state armed groups in the Catatumbo region, Norte de Santander,” said Juan Carlos Monge, the OHCHR acting representative in Colombia.

The UN office verified the killing of at least 60 people, while the regional government reported more than 80 deaths as of Sunday. Human rights defenders have also documented the forced displacement of more than 18,000 people, the confinement of over 1,000 individuals—including 23 Indigenous communities of the Bari people and communities of the Yukpa people.

The OHCHR also reported the deprivation of liberty of at least 30 individuals; the interruption of education for 46,000 children, adolescents, and teenagers; threats and stigmatization of social leaders; and the killing of signatories to the peace accords.

These human rights violations occurred in towns across Catatumbo, including Tibu, Teorama, Sardinata, Convencion, El Tarra, San Calixto, Hacari, and Abrego.

“The OHCHR office calls on the National Liberation Army and other non-state armed groups to refrain from violating international humanitarian law and to respect the human rights of the population,” Monge urged, acknowledging the swift response of the Colombian government to address the emergency but calling for efforts to be “redoubled.”

The clashes, which began on Thursday between the ELN and a FARC dissident faction, have left around 80 dead and more than 20 injured, although authorities have not yet been able to access all the areas where the fighting has occurred. For this reason, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared a state of internal disturbance and economic emergency on Monday.

teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE

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