At least 80 people have been killed and more than 20 injured, while around 5,000 have been displaced in violent clashes between militants of the National Liberation Army and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC in the northern region of Catatumbo, the governor of the Northern Santander region, William Villamizar, said.
He called on the militants to stop fighting, respect human rights and open humanitarian corridors so that civilians could leave the area.
The conflict took place in the Catatumbo river basin on the border with Venezuela.
Colombia’s ombudsman’s office said militants from the National Liberation Army kidnapped another 20 people in the area.
For more than half a century, Colombia has been in a state of armed conflict involving various paramilitary organizations.
During that time, more than 260,000 people died or were killed, and millions were displaced.
Gustavo Petra’s administration came to power in 2022 with a promise to achieve comprehensive peace with the country’s numerous rebel groups.
After another terrorist attack on a military base in September, a delegation from the Colombian government announced that the peace process with the National Liberation Army was suspended until the group “demonstrates that it unequivocally supports peace.”
(Vijesti.ba / Srna)
