Introduction
Despite significant development gains in Colombia over the past decade, including the 2016 Peace Agreement with the country’s largest guerrilla group (the FARC), humanitarian needs are still rising.
The context of Colombia is complex, and the multi-layered humanitarian situation remains acute due to:
- the territorial expansion of armed non-state actors;
- the increased impact of disasters related to climate change;
- growing socio-economic vulnerabilities exacerbated by COVID-19;
- the integration needs of more than 2.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants.
What are the needs?
The humanitarian impact continues to exceed the response capacity of government entities and humanitarian partners in several parts of Colombia. As a result, an estimated 9.1 million people are expected to have humanitarian needs in 2025 and will require complementary assistance from humanitarian actors, according to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO).
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that at least 250,000 people suffered from the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in 2023. This includes forced displacement, confinements, threats, homicides, landmine explosions, and forced recruitment. Despite the intent to promote total peace, the lack of respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) has rendered the civilian population even more vulnerable, particularly in the Amazon and Pacific regions, and border areas with Venezuela and Ecuador. Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities are particularly affected.
The most vulnerable people require protection, food assistance, healthcare, education, and safe water. Besides basic needs, the situation of refugees and internally displaced people also requires protection, psychosocial and legal assistance, and the development of durable solutions.
Over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2015, among them more than 2.9 million live in Colombia. The 2024 Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) projects staggering figures such as up to 4.71 million people in need of assistance in Colombia, including migrants, refugees, and host communities.
Volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, and droughts represent another threat to people’s lives and livelihoods. As of November 2024, according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), more than 2 million people had already been affected by emergencies related to natural hazards, mainly due to drought (water shortages and rationing) at 53% and floods (34%). This represents a significant increase compared to previous years (HRP 2025).
How are we helping?
Colombia is one of Latin America's largest recipients of EU humanitarian aid, having received more than €462 million since 1994. For 2025, the initial allocation is €21 million.
In 2024, the EU allocated over €30 million in humanitarian assistance, including half a million in response to the large floods recorded in November.
EU aid helps provide essential services such as health, protection, education, water and sanitation, and other services to vulnerable groups facing structural barriers to access.
While assistance to populations affected by violence and armed conflict has been prioritised since 1994, the evolving context of multiple risks has prompted the EU to swiftly adapt its humanitarian aid to address the most urgent needs of vulnerable communities.
Furthermore, since 2018, the EU has allocated resources in Colombia to provide humanitarian services to the migrant population arriving in the country, including transit migrants and those crossing the dangerous Darien Gap.
The European Union and the Latin America and Caribbean region established a Memorandum of Understanding on disaster risk management as a new collaboration instrument. This agreement focuses on disaster preparedness and risk management, and it became effective in May 2024. Regional disaster management agencies, including the Andean Committee for Disaster Prevention (CAPRADE), have signed as parties to the agreement.
Last updated: 16/05/2025
Facts & figures
8.3 million people in Colombia need humanitarian assistance. (HRP 2024)
8.2 million people are internally displaced since the start of the Colombian conflict. (UARIV, 2022)
Between 2022 and 2023, 134,200 Colombians applied for asylum worldwide.
Colombia ranks as the third country in the region with the highest number of new asylum seekers, following Venezuela and Cuba. (UNHCR, 2023)
Over 2.9 million refugees and migrants come from Venezuela. (RMRP 2024)
EU humanitarian funding:
€462 million since 1994 to date
€21 million in 2025