In Condoto, Colombia, over a hundred residents gathered to seek government aid amidst clashes between rebels and criminal factions, displacing thousands. The recent violence, sparked by the rebel group ELN's "armed strike" in Choco on February 18, has left locals fearing for their safety if they leave their homes.
Maria, a 38-year-old who fled with her children, voiced the community's frustration: "We are tired of this. No one cares about our plight. We are lost and hungry." The strife in Choco mirrors that in Catatumbo, near the Venezuelan border, where ELN attacks on former FARC members and civilians have led to numerous casualties and mass displacements.
The heightened violence led President Gustavo Petro to halt peace talks with the ELN, dealing a blow to efforts to end the country's long-standing conflict. In Choco, the ELN battles the Clan del Golfo crime syndicate and FARC dissidents for control of the region, crucial for drug trafficking and illegal mining.
The widespread placement of landmines by armed groups in Choco hinders locals from accessing their farming land, exacerbating the crisis in the rural area. Lilia Solano, the head of the government's Victims Unit, described the situation as a "tragedy" due to the escalating number of victims and the increasing difficulty in providing assistance to all those affected.