Cucuta, Colombia — Colombia is bracing for a potential refugee crisis following US strikes in Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday.
Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday that he was sending 30,000 soldiers to the border with Venezuela to shore up security, and the country has also enacted emergency measures to support refugees.
At the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, which spans the Tachira River separating Colombia and Venezuela near the border city of Cucuta, vehicle and foot traffic flowed normally on Monday despite an increased military presence, which included three parked Colombian M1117 armoured security vehicles.
But with United States President Donald Trump threatening more attacks if newly sworn-in interim leader Delcy Rodriguez does not “behave”, an uneasy calm has settled over the border region, and Colombia is preparing for the worst.
Sanchez said security forces had been “activated” to prevent any retaliation from armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and Segunda Marquetalia, or Second Marquetalia — a dissident faction of the leftist group FARC, that have operated with virtual impunity in Venezuela for years.
Colombia’s armed groups have historically taken advantage of the rugged 1,367-mile (2,200km) border with Venezuela to traffic drugs and seek refuge from the Colombian army. With Maduro’s ouster, Colombian intelligence has signalled the possible return of armed group leaders as their security in Venezuela could be jeopardised.
Meanwhile, the Colombian government has set up five emergency command posts in cities near the border to deal with an expected increase in refugees following the US attacks on Venezuela.
“These [command posts] allow us to permanently coordinate humanitarian, security and territorial control actions, with direct state presence in the most sensitive areas,” said Sanchez.
President Gustavo Petro also dispatched Minister of Equality and Equity Juan Carlos Florian to Cucuta to address humanitarian concerns for refugees.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
