**Border Village in Colombia Transforms into Ghost Town Amid Escalating Violence**
TRES BOCAS, Colombia – The once vibrant Colombian border village of Tres Bocas now lies eerily deserted as terrified residents flee towards neighboring Venezuela to escape a deadly surge of violence sweeping through the Catatumbo region. The recent wave of unrest has claimed the lives of at least 80 individuals and forced thousands to abandon their homes.
According to the United Nations, over 18,000 people have fled the northeastern region in fear as clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a rival faction, known as the FARC-EMC, escalate to alarming levels. Among these displaced individuals, about 1,000 have sought refuge across the border in Venezuela.
Jaime Botero, the president of a community association in the nearby town of Tibu, located approximately 10 km (6 miles) west of Tres Bocas, expressed grave concerns over the situation. “Many are living in fear due to the violent skirmishes erupting in rural areas,” Botero lamented.
Situated on the Colombia-Venezuela border, the Catatumbo region, with its population of around 300,000, serves as a significant hub for coca cultivation, contributing to 15% of Colombia’s illicit drug production. The power struggle between the FARC-EMC and ELN for territorial control and dominance over lucrative drug trafficking routes has long plagued the region, interrupting the lives of its inhabitants.
Tensions reached a boiling point last week when ELN insurgents targeted civilians, accusing them of collaborating with their rivals, the FARC-EMC. Shocking reports emerged of ELN rebels forcibly removing individuals from their homes and executing them at point-blank range, instigating widespread panic and chaos.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro took decisive action by suspending peace negotiations with the ELN, citing the rebel group’s involvement in egregious war crimes. In a bid to address the escalating crisis, Petro announced plans to issue an emergency decree that would grant him authority to enact critical legislation pertaining to the conflict without the need for parliamentary consent.
The United Nations, represented by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, swiftly condemned the heinous targeting of civilians, including former combatants who had previously signed the 2016 peace agreement. Expressing deep concern over the mass displacement of innocent civilians, the U.N. called for an immediate halt to all acts of violence against the vulnerable population and urged for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.
Late Tuesday, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq echoed the organization’s plea for the armed factions operating in the Catatumbo region, particularly the ELN, to uphold the rights of civilians. The tragic deaths of two human rights defenders in the preceding week underscored the urgent need for the protection of individuals caught in the crossfire between warring groups.
As the situation in Catatumbo grows increasingly dire, the international community stands
