Red Cross: Colombia Armed Conflict Hits Civilians Hardest in a Decade

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that armed conflict in Colombia inflicted its worst impact on civilians in ten years during 2025. The humanitarian crisis intensified as criminal gangs and rebel groups fought both the state and each other, causing the number of displaced people to double to 235,000. Additionally, lockdowns imposed by rebels in small towns increased by 99%, and casualties from explosive devices rose by 33% to 965 cases. Despite peace efforts by President Gustavo Petro’s administration, including ceasefires, critics argue these pauses allowed rebels to regroup and strengthen control over rural areas, leading to increased child recruitment and intimidation. Political violence also escalated, highlighted by the assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota. The UN Human Rights office noted a 9% rise in murders of human rights defenders, describing the security situation as backsliding. The ICRC urged all conflicting parties to strictly respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, emphasizing that such respect is not optional amidst the deteriorating security landscape driven by struggles for control over cocaine trade corridors.