The governor of the Colombian department of Norte de Santander, William Villamizar, declared “a social and economic emergency” in that region in the northeast of the country due to the humanitarian crisis caused by clashes between ELN guerrillas and FARC dissidents in the Catatumbo area (northeast).

The mayor of Cúcuta, Jorge Acevedo, said Monday that the situation due to the violence in the Catatumbo region has already overwhelmed all the capacities of this Colombian city on the border with Venezuela,

At least 80 people are dead and more than 18,000 have been forced to flee their homes in Colombia, officials say, amid fierce clashes between two rival armed groups on the border with Venezuela.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday said that he would declare a state of emergency over the guerrilla attacks in the northeast that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee their homes.

Terrified residents carrying backpacks and belongings on overladen motorcycles, boats, or crammed onto the backs of open trucks, fled the region over the weekend.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says he will declare an emergency over the guerrilla attacks in the northeast that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee.

Guerrilla attacks in the country’s northeast have killed dozens and forced thousands of people flee their homes.

Colombian president Gustavo Petro says he will declare a state of emergency, following a spate of guerrilla attacks in the country's northeast that has killed dozens of people and forced

The ELN, which has an estimated 6,000 fighters, reportedly attacked civilians it accused of collaborating with a rival group, the FARC-EMC, shooting them in the streets, while in rural areas firefights broke out between members of both groups.

At least 80 people are dead and more than 11,000 have been forced to flee their homes in Colombia, officials say, amid fierce clashes between two rival armed groups on the border with Venezuela.

Violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo region has displaced 20,000 people amid clashes between ELN guerrillas and FARC dissidents. Humanitarian aid is overwhelmed as thousands flee to urban centers. Authorities report 100 fatalities,