Approximately 100,000 people were forcibly displaced in the Norte de Santander department of Colombia between January and April 2026 [1].
This surge in displacement signals a deteriorating security situation in the region, as illegal armed groups fight for territorial control. The scale of the crisis threatens to overwhelm local humanitarian infrastructure and increases the vulnerability of civilian populations.
The displacement is concentrated in the Norte de Santander department, specifically within the Catatumbo subregion [1], [2]. Reports said the movement of people is the direct result of violent confrontations between illegal armed groups competing for control of the territory [1].
Data regarding the scale of the crisis varies by region. While the total for the department is estimated at 100,000 people [1], other reports said approximately 32,000 people were displaced specifically from the Catatumbo subregion [2]. This suggests that while Catatumbo is a primary flashpoint, the instability extends across the wider department.
The crisis in Norte de Santander is part of a broader national trend of instability. Between January and April 2026, Colombia recorded 46 separate events of mass forced displacement [1].
These numbers reflect a volatile environment where civilians are caught in the crossfire of territorial disputes. The frequent shifts in control between armed factions often lead to sudden, large-scale evacuations of rural communities, leaving thousands without shelter or basic necessities.
“Approximately 100,000 people were forcibly displaced in the Norte de Santander department”
The concentration of displacement in Norte de Santander and the Catatumbo region highlights a failure to secure strategic corridors against illegal armed groups. The disparity in figures between the subregion and the department suggests a widespread crisis rather than an isolated incident, indicating that territorial disputes are expanding in scope across the Colombian borderlands.
