The number of people forced to flee in Colombia has doubled since the historic peace agreement eight years ago between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Colombia: 1.5 million displaced post peace agreement
While more than 130,000 people were forced to flee in Colombia in 2016, the number of people newly displaced will exceed 260,000 in 2024, according to estimates by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
“We recognise recent efforts, but it is of paramount importance that the government's plan to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement effectively reduces forced displacement. This upward trend cannot continue. It must be stopped immediately,” said Giovanni Rizzo, NRC's country director in Colombia.
“If displacement was a thermometer of peace, then Colombia's health would be failing,” stated Rizzo.
Threats, torture, homicides, armed combat, bombs, the use of anti-personnel mines, forced recruitment, violence and land dispossession continue to be some of the main causes of displacement in Colombia. In total, around 5.1 million people are currently living in displacement, 1.5 million of these have been displaced after the peace agreement was signed in 2016.
“My grandfather, I, and now my son - three generations displaced in three different decades. We can't endure this anymore. We deserve to live in peace," a community leader from southwestern Colombia told NRC.
Amid ongoing humanitarian response in emergencies, efforts to help people recover from displacement lack adequate funding. As of October 2024, only four per cent of the requested funds by the humanitarian actors in Colombia have been allocated to help communities to recover after crisis.
“The Colombian Government and international community must provide the support necessary to allow displaced Colombians to rebuild their lives. This is key to achieve a sustainable peace,” said Rizzo.
NRC also urges all parties to the conflict to prioritise peace negotiations to stop six decades of agony and human rights violations. Negotiated peace is the only way to end conflict.
Notes to editors:
- Photos and video from Colombia are available for free use here.
- According to government's registry system more than 130,000 people were forced to flee in Colombia in 2016.
- The 1.5 million people displaced figure results from the sum of the number of displaced persons included in the government's registry system (period 2016 - 2023) and the sum of the projected figure of displaced persons in 2024 made by NRC (based on data from the government's registry system, OCHA, IDMC and the Humanitarian NGO Forum).
- Around 5.1 million people are living in internal displacement as a result of conflict and violence in Colombia (IDMC).
- Nearly 8.4 million Colombians continue to live in areas where non-state armed actors are present (OCHA).
- According to ICRC classification, there are currently eight non-international armed conflicts in Colombia (ICRC).
- The number of people in confinement also continues to rise. From January to October 2024: 100,331 were confined, while in the same period of 2023: 65,063 (OCHA).
- Out of the 332 million US dollars requested for the 2024 Colombian humanitarian response plan, 49 per cent has been funded. Early recovery is the most underfunded sector in the plan, in 2024 the international community requested 34 million US dollars and only 1.2 million US dollars (4%) have been reported as received for this sector (OCHA).
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC’s global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- NRC Colombia Advocacy and Communication Officer, Ana Milena Ayala: ana.ayala@nrc.no, +57 3232746021
While more than 130,000 people were forced to flee in Colombia in 2016, the number of people newly displaced will exceed 260,000 in 2024, according to estimates by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
“We recognise recent efforts, but it is of paramount importance that the government's plan to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement effectively reduces forced displacement. This upward trend cannot continue. It must be stopped immediately,” said Giovanni Rizzo, NRC's country director in Colombia.
“If displacement was a thermometer of peace, then Colombia's health would be failing,” stated Rizzo.
Threats, torture, homicides, armed combat, bombs, the use of anti-personnel mines, forced recruitment, violence and land dispossession continue to be some of the main causes of displacement in Colombia. In total, around 5.1 million people are currently living in displacement, 1.5 million of these have been displaced after the peace agreement was signed in 2016.
“My grandfather, I, and now my son - three generations displaced in three different decades. We can't endure this anymore. We deserve to live in peace," a community leader from southwestern Colombia told NRC.
Amid ongoing humanitarian response in emergencies, efforts to help people recover from displacement lack adequate funding. As of October 2024, only four per cent of the requested funds by the humanitarian actors in Colombia have been allocated to help communities to recover after crisis.
“The Colombian Government and international community must provide the support necessary to allow displaced Colombians to rebuild their lives. This is key to achieve a sustainable peace,” said Rizzo.
NRC also urges all parties to the conflict to prioritise peace negotiations to stop six decades of agony and human rights violations. Negotiated peace is the only way to end conflict.
Notes to editors:
- Photos and video from Colombia are available for free use here.
- According to government's registry system more than 130,000 people were forced to flee in Colombia in 2016.
- The 1.5 million people displaced figure results from the sum of the number of displaced persons included in the government's registry system (period 2016 - 2023) and the sum of the projected figure of displaced persons in 2024 made by NRC (based on data from the government's registry system, OCHA, IDMC and the Humanitarian NGO Forum).
- Around 5.1 million people are living in internal displacement as a result of conflict and violence in Colombia (IDMC).
- Nearly 8.4 million Colombians continue to live in areas where non-state armed actors are present (OCHA).
- According to ICRC classification, there are currently eight non-international armed conflicts in Colombia (ICRC).
- The number of people in confinement also continues to rise. From January to October 2024: 100,331 were confined, while in the same period of 2023: 65,063 (OCHA).
- Out of the 332 million US dollars requested for the 2024 Colombian humanitarian response plan, 49 per cent has been funded. Early recovery is the most underfunded sector in the plan, in 2024 the international community requested 34 million US dollars and only 1.2 million US dollars (4%) have been reported as received for this sector (OCHA).
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC’s global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- NRC Colombia Advocacy and Communication Officer, Ana Milena Ayala: ana.ayala@nrc.no, +57 3232746021