In northern Colombia, residents are experiencing escalating violence due to a conflict between rival armed groups, particularly the National Liberation Army (ELN). The situation has deteriorated significantly, leading Cucuta's mayor to impose a curfew to restore order. Reports indicate multiple injuries and widespread panic among the populace. The unrest marks a setback for President Gustavo Petro's peace initiatives, with urgent humanitarian needs rising to 122,000. The fighting, which has roots in earlier confrontations, has resulted in significant casualties, displacement, and lockdowns across various regions of Colombia.
"It's very tense. The police and military are on every corner and everyone is in a state of panic because we are all wondering where they are going to bomb next."
"The unrest started in the surrounding Catatumbo region in mid-January when the ELN began warring with dissident factions of the now defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), killing 80 people, displacing 50,000."
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