Colombia: International aid saves lives and sustains hope for solutions among displaced communities

“Colombia boasts one of the world’s most ambitious reparation frameworks for displaced people, but compensating a population while conflict continues is like trying to empty a leaking bucket with a teacup while the tap remains open. Addressing this challenge calls for continued international cooperation to support the State in fulfilling its commitments,” said Boris Aristin, manager of one of the country’s most experienced humanitarian consortia specialising in conflict response, known as MIRE+.  

According to warnings from Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office and national oversight bodies, at the current pace of processing and budget allocation, completing compensation for all registered displaced people could take more than six decades. For many survivors of the armed conflict, this means the promised relief may never arrive in their lifetimes. 

Last year’s figures illustrate the scale of the situation. In 2025, nearly 400,000 new displaced people from the conflict were recorded, while about 220,000 families received state compensation. Consequently, hundreds of thousands more families have joined the wait for state compensation. 

“The state works to bail out the water, but active conflict keeps the tap running, increasing the number of displaced families in the country who will need compensation from the state,” said Aristin.  

This is where international support becomes vital. In remote areas affected by organised armed groups, emergency aid delivered by humanitarian organisations complements state efforts when fighting breaks out, or when threats, child recruitment, and killings occur. Covering immediate life-saving needs helps stabilize affected communities, creating better conditions for the state to advance its compensation and reparation commitments. 

But just as important, beyond immediate relief- such as providing clean water, safe temporary shelter, hygiene kits, emergency education, food security, health, or emergency cash - humanitarians work side-by-side with communities to contribute also to lasting solutions. This means restoring access to safe schooling, securing land rights, or rebuilding local livelihoods. This is key to preventing or mitigating further displacement. 

While state compensation arrives, international humanitarian aid helps foster the conditions needed for lasting change—ensuring communities are better equipped to navigate a conflict that is not theirs, while keeping alive the hope for a better future in their territories. 

Between January 2026 and August 2026, the MIRE+ consortium’s member organisations reached nearly 20,000 conflict-affected people with life-saving support, while standing alongside 4,500 others as they worked to rebuild their lives for the long term. 

“While accelerating victim compensation and resolving the conflict are paramount state responsibilities, reaching these milestones requires time,” said Aristin. “This makes ongoing international solidarity and funding - from the United States, the European Union, and European donor nations - essential to delivering life-saving relief and contributing to lasting solutions for conflict-affected communities.” 

Notes to editors:

• The MIRE+ Consortium is an emergency response mechanism established in 2020. It is currently led by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in partnership with Médecins du Monde and local partner, Pastoral Social.
• The MIRE+ Consortium is funded by the United States Department of State, the European Union (ECHO), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Regional Humanitarian Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean (RHPF), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
• Between January 2026 and August 2026, the MIRE+ consortium reached over 19,600 people with emergency aid for conflict and natural disasters and supported an additional 4,500 conflict-affected individuals with early recovery and community-led solutions.
• According to the Victims’ Unit, 10,357,896 have been recorded historically in the country.
• According to Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, and Comptroller General’s Office, 24.7 per cent of victims—1.9 million out of nearly 7.9 million—have received financial compensation.
• In June 2026, Colombia's Ombudsman's Office called on the incoming government to prioritize victims' rights, cautioning that completing individual reparations could take as long as 60 years under current operational and financial constraints.
• In 2025, the Victims’ Unit (UARIV) delivered administrative compensation to 220,533 victims. Under Colombian law (Law 1448 of 2011), victims are defined as individuals who have suffered direct harm from violations of International Humanitarian Law or gross violations of human rights (including forced displacement) occurring within the context of the internal armed conflict.
• According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), 394,000 people were displaced in 2025 in Colombia.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

• NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329