Health needs of internally displaced persons from the Catatumbo region, Colombia: 2025

When conflict forces people to flee their homes, the journey does not end when they find a new place to sleep. For the millions of people displaced within their own countries, known as internally displaced persons, the immediate crisis of survival often gives way to a secondary, silent crisis of health. In these chaotic environments, clean water and sanitation frequently disappear, crowded living conditions spread germs rapidly, and access to doctors becomes a matter of chance rather than right. This disruption breaks the continuity of care that people rely on for everything from childhood illnesses to chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Understanding exactly what sicknesses strike these populations, and who is most vulnerable, is essential for humanitarian groups trying to save lives. Without this knowledge, aid efforts can miss the mark, leaving critical needs unmet while resources are poured into less urgent areas.

In early 2025, a fresh wave of violence erupted in the Catatumbo region of Colombia, a rugged area near the Venezuelan border. This conflict forced more than 110,000 people to run for their lives. Among them were Colombian citizens fleeing their own country, as well as a unique group of Venezuelan immigrants who had already been displaced once before and were now being forced to move a second time. These "doubly displaced" families faced a compounded vulnerability, having lost their homes and stability twice in a short span. To understand the health toll of this specific crisis, a team of researchers from humanitarian organizations and universities set up a massive medical survey. Between January and May of that year, they treated nearly 2,000 displaced individuals across twenty-nine different clinical sites in the city of Cúcuta. These sites ranged from hotels and community centers to large stadiums, all serving as temporary shelters for the fleeing families. The researchers did not just count patients; they meticulously recorded every symptom and diagnosis, looking for patterns that could guide future emergency responses.

The picture that emerged from the medical records was stark and dominated by infection. Of the people examined, a overwhelming majority—about 70 percent—were suffering from some form of infectious disease. The most common ailment was respiratory infection, affecting roughly one-third of all patients, with children being significantly more likely to catch these illnesses than adults. These respiratory issues ranged from common upper respiratory infections to more severe cases. Following closely behind were gastrointestinal infections, which troubled about 15 percent of the patients, and genitourinary infections, which affected a similar number. The researchers noted that the sheer volume of infectious disease was likely an undercount, as many patients presented with symptoms like fever, cough, or diarrhea without a confirmed diagnosis, and the crowded conditions in shelters and hotels likely accelerated the spread of germs.

While infections dominated the immediate health landscape, the study also looked for non-infectious conditions, such as chronic diseases and mental health struggles. Surprisingly, the recorded prevalence of these conditions was much lower than expected. Only about 5 percent of the patients were diagnosed with non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, or asthma, and mental health disorders were recorded in less than half a percent of cases. The researchers explained that this low number likely did not mean these problems were absent. Instead, it reflected the nature of an emergency response, which prioritizes immediate, life-threatening issues like infections and trauma. Furthermore, many patients with primary mental health complaints were referred directly to specialized partner organizations and were not counted in this specific dataset. The data also suggested that the population surveyed was relatively young, which naturally lowers the rate of chronic diseases compared to the general population.

The study also revealed how different groups within the displaced population were affected. While Colombians and Venezuelans shared similar rates for most illnesses, a distinct difference appeared in genitourinary infections, which were notably more common among the Venezuelan patients. The researchers linked this to the specific vulnerabilities faced by migrants, including higher risks of exploitation and a lack of access to regular health screening. Interestingly, having health insurance or not did not change the types of illnesses people had, as the humanitarian clinics provided free care to everyone regardless of their status. However, where a person stayed mattered. Those living in crowded shelters or community centers were more likely to report pain and gastrointestinal issues, while those in hotels had fewer respiratory infections, likely due to differences in crowding and sanitation.

Ultimately, the research paints a clear picture of a population in acute distress, where the immediate threat is infection rather than chronic disease. The findings suggest that for humanitarian aid to be effective in future crises, it must be built around rapid screening and treatment for infectious diseases, particularly in the crowded spaces where displaced people are forced to live. At the same time, the study highlights a critical gap: the need to integrate mental health support and chronic disease management into emergency relief from the very beginning, rather than waiting for the crisis to stabilize. By addressing both the immediate infections and the underlying vulnerabilities of displaced communities, aid organizations can better protect the health and dignity of those who have lost everything.