Another mass displacement in Nariño, Colombia, as over 225 flee conflict

Another wave of displacement has struck the northwestern region of Nariño, Colombia, forcing over 225 residents from rural villages into the urban center of Los Andes-Sotomayor. This latest exodus is a direct consequence of escalating armed conflict in the area, characterized by intense clashes between government troops and dissident FARC factions.

This incident marks the second mass displacement within a single month in the jurisdiction. On May 12, approximately 581 people from seven villages were similarly compelled to seek refuge in Los Andes-Sotomayor. The Office of the United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Colombia previously attributed that displacement to confrontations between non-state armed groups vying for territorial control.

According to local inhabitants, the recent fighting has persisted for three days in areas surrounding the villages of La Cocha, Tambillo de Bravos, and Parapetos, near the border with the municipality of Linares. Among those displaced are children, pregnant women, and the elderly, who are currently housed in improvised shelters awaiting humanitarian aid.

Alex González, Secretary of Peace and Coexistence for the Nariño Governorate, confirmed the influence of the FARC's 'Estado Mayor Central' in the region, specifically the 'Franco Benavides' front. He also acknowledged reports of three destroyed houses in the El Crucero village, an issue that human rights organizations will investigate. The Third Division of the National Army reported three soldiers injured in the clashes. González expressed concern that this new outbreak of violence occurred shortly before the second round of presidential elections.