Colombia
In Colombia, HI carries out humanitarian demining, victim assistance and economic inclusion activities to support peacebuilding.
In the humid region of the Inzá mountains, a deminer carries out demining operations in a contaminated area. | © J. M. Vargas / HI
Actions in process
In Colombia, a country severely affected by armed violence, landmines and improvised explosive devices litter many regions and pose a considerable risk to the population. To address this, HI carries out humanitarian demining activities in five departments of the country: Cauca, Meta, Córdoba, Nariño and Antioquia. These operations aim to enable the populations to feel safe on their land once again and resume their daily lives.
At the same time, to minimise the number of accidents, the organisation supports communities by organising awareness-raising sessions on the risks associated with landmines and improvised explosive devices. This enables residents to identify dangerous situations and learn how to behave to avoid accidents. Furthermore, HI supports community projects aimed at securing people’s livelihoods and developing the local economy.
HI also employs conflict transformation techniques to promote harmonious coexistence within communities, between host populations and migrants. The organisation facilitates access to healthcare, particularly in terms of rehabilitation and psychosocial support, for members of these communities, taking into account the needs of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young people, and people with disabilities and caregivers.
In response to the disasters that regularly strike Colombia, such as floods and landslides, HI deploys emergency responses to help those affected meet their basic needs: access to water, food, health, mental health and psychosocial support, safe shelter and protection services.
- Number of HI staff: 176 people
- Number of direct beneficiaries supported by HI in 2025: 45,065 people
- Number of indirect beneficiaries supported by HI in 2025: 30,240 people
- Programme launch date: 1998
Areas of intervention
concretely
Situation of the country
For decades, Colombia has been affected by a protracted conflict between the government and non-state armed groups. Indeed, despite peace and development efforts, the country continues to face serious outbreaks of violence. As a result, in 2025, 1.6 million people were directly affected by violence and armed conflict, three times as many as in 2024. Of these, more than 155,000 people were forcibly confined and 96,000 displaced. Nearly 78% of the rural population lives under the influence of non-state armed groups that control territories and restrict access to essential services. Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities are particularly affected.
Colombia remains the second most heavily mined country in the world. Against this backdrop, humanitarian demining continues, as does support for affected communities. Indeed, nearly half of the victims of landmines and explosive devices are civilians, and many live in remote areas with no direct access to health centres or rehabilitation care.
Furthermore, the country is hosting 2.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, which is exacerbating tensions and the need for basic services. The most urgent needs relate to protection, access to food, healthcare, drinking water and safe shelter.
Finally, Colombia is highly vulnerable to disasters, particularly floods, landslides and droughts, as well as the consequences of the El Niño phenomenon. These extreme events exacerbate humanitarian needs, particularly within rural and marginalised communities, which are the most severely affected and see their livelihoods threatened. In 2025, disasters affected more than one million people.
- Population: 51.9 million
- HDI: 0.788 (2023)
- GDP: USD 363.6 billion (2024)
- GDP per capita: ~USD 6,972 (2024)
