Colombia — humanitarian situation

Colombia faces compounding humanitarian pressures driven by ongoing armed conflict, climate-related disasters, and an anticipated El Niño event. Between January and April 2026, more than 630,000 people were affected by armed conflict and over 535,000 by climate-associated disasters (OCHA). The conflict generated 77 mass displacement and confinement emergencies affecting approximately 54,000 people across 48 municipalities, with confinement impacting 41,800 individuals and ethnic communities representing nearly 49 percent of those affected (OCHA). On average, a humanitarian emergency involving displacement or confinement occurred every two days during this period. The humanitarian outlook is deteriorating with the forecasted arrival of El Niño conditions from mid-2026. Projections indicate that over 4.3 million people could face high or very high impacts, primarily from water scarcity, concentrated across 508 municipalities representing 45 percent of the country (OCHA, 3iS, EHP Colombia). Departments including La Guajira, Córdoba, and Antioquia face elevated risk. The phenomenon threatens to trigger a multisectoral crisis affecting livelihoods, food security, health, and protection outcomes. This forecast comes amid a regional measles outbreak, with 22,324 confirmed cases and 38 deaths reported across 17 countries and territories in the Americas as of 13 June 2026, marking a 207 percent increase over the same period in 2025 (OCHA). Response capacity remains constrained despite ongoing coordination efforts. The Regional Humanitarian Pooled Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean allocated US$1.5 million for Colombia in its first 2025 standard allocation, targeting urgent needs from armed conflict and disasters through localized rapid response mechanisms in hard-to-reach areas including Guaviare, Caquetá, and Valle del Cauca (OCHA). Multiple rapid response mechanisms operate at national and departmental levels (EHP Colombia), and common logistics services are now available through WFP supported by RHPF LAC funding (WFP, Logistics Cluster). A localization strategy implemented by 3iS reached 11 prioritized departments and strengthened 19 local organizations over eight months (3iS). However, access constraints persist in conflict-affected zones where confinement restricts population movement and humanitarian delivery.