Colombia

Since the installation of the Colombian Government over a year ago, significant policy strides have been made. The Government has demonstrated a proactive commitment to advancing Total Peace efforts by fostering dialogues and ceasefires with some non-state armed groups.

Despite these commendable efforts, Colombia still grapples with overlapping persistent humanitarian challenges – particularly in areas where State presence and capacity are more limited- arising from the expanding geographical impact of internal armed conflict, its intensification in some areas, and ongoing disasters. 

Whilst some progress has been observed in some areas in terms of a reduction in violence from armed confrontations within the context of cease-fire agreements, concerns persist regarding key protection dimensions related to increased territorial and social control exerted by NSAGs, including child recruitment, landmine contamination, individual displacements, gender-based violence, mobility restrictions, and access constraints. In 2023, nearly 105,000 people were affected by conflicts in 161 mass emergency events. A similar amount were affected by individual displacements. Current trends suggest the continuation of mass emergencies and related humanitarian needs in the coming year.

In 2023, approximately 8.3 million people have been identified as facing urgent humanitarian needs, indicating a concerning rise in comparison to the preceding year50,4% of this population are women, and 30% children. 1.9 million Ethnic communities (23%) are disproportionately affected. In addition, Colombia hosts some 2.9 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees who, despite progress achieved through the Temporary Protection Permit issued by the Government, still require particular attention, especially regarding socio-economic integration Increasing numbers of migrants and people in need of international protection (mixed movements) also transit through Colombia and the Darien region, between Colombia and Panama, on their way to North America, facing grave risks. 

All members of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), with support from various donors have diligently worked to complement the Government's response in addressing the most critical needs. So far, as of October 2023, humanitarian assistance reached 1.1million people out of the targeted 1.6 million people. Furthermore, the HCT is committed to strengthening its territorial presence in regions such as Magdalena Medio, Guainía and Vaupés, where the escalation of conflict and mixed affectations has been particularly pronounced, and the capacity to respond remains limited. Sustained funding limitations, however, remain a pressing challenge for the HCT. In 2023, the plan was financed at 46% posing significant challenges to reach all of the targeted population.

In the years 2024 and 2025, the HCT will strategically align its response into three distinctive phases:

1. Emergency Response: Focusing on areas significantly impacted by violence and internal conflict and disasters, particularly in remote rural regions with dispersed populations, influenced by NSAG, and where state presence and capacities are limited, including new areas affected by violence and conflict.
2. Proactive Prevention and Preparedness: Targeting regions prone to recurring disasters, newly emerging climate change-related emergencies, and areas identified as most at risk due to El Niño phenomenon. This phase will involve enhancing predictive analysis and fostering anticipatory actions.
3. Deliberate Transition to Sustainable Development: Enhancing the nexus (humanitarian, peace,development and climate change) approach,  at territorial level to better link humanitarian responses to more durable solutions. The response strategy will prioritize the most vulnerable populations, including children, women, and ethnic communities.