The conflict in Colombia's Catatumbo region has drastically escalated, as revealed by a refugee assistance organization characterizing the area as a 'war zone' filled with forced recruitment, sexual violence, and killings. Over the past year, a staggering 100,000 individuals have been displaced due to ongoing clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and former FARC militants. Dairo Berez, a 40-year-old man, shared his harrowing experience of fleeing with his family from their home in this notorious area, where threats of violence and forced recruitment are pervasive.

Berez recounted the threats he and his family faced, emphasizing how armed groups targeted his sons, aged 15 and 18, for recruitment while posing a lethal threat to his own life. He described the terrifying ordeal of attempting to escape, only to be blocked by these armed assailants, highlighting the intense fear experienced by civilians in the region. As a result of this escalating violence, the region has become a 'no-go zone' for the military, allowing guerrilla fighters to patrol and impose terror without restraint.

The circumstances in Catatumbo illustrate a broader humanitarian crisis in Colombia, as civilian populations bear the brunt of armed conflict amidst a backdrop of lawlessness. With children being forcibly recruited and civilians becoming victims of targeted violence and drone attacks, the situation necessitates urgent attention and intervention to protect those fleeing this violence and to address the dire security challenges plaguing the region.