Colombia families flee illegal gangs as Farc leaves

Families on Colombia's border with Venezuela have been
displaced by illegal groups trying to fill the vacuum left by
 the departure of Farc rebels, the UN says.

Officials said 96 families in the northern region of Norte
 de Santander had fled their homes.

Some crossed the border into Venezuela and others
 went to refuges in local towns.

The UN said tension was high and they feared more
 families could flee.

According to the UN, various groups operate or have 
operated in the region: the Farc, Colombia's second 
largest guerrilla group, the ELN, and criminal and ex-paramilitary groups.

Norte de Santander has emerged as the country's main 
hub for coca cultivation.

Last week, peasant farmer organisations in the region, 
around Catatumbo, blocked the demobilisation of Farc 
units saying that their departure would leave them unprotected as the paramilitary groups gathered nearby.

There have also been reports by local communities of an
increased presence of criminal groups in at least three 
other departments: Antioquia, Uraba and Choco.

The Farc has largely left towns and rural areas it occupied 
and most of the fighters have gathered in 26 concentration zones under the watch of a multinational commission.

The Colombian military have moved into some territories
 in Tolima and Huila departments but, according to the government's Peace and Reconciliation Foundation, it is proving difficult  to take over in more isolated regions 
because of the problems of terrain and lack of access.

The Farc is expected to hand over its arms by the end 
of May.

It has agreed to co-operate with investigations into 
drug trafficking and war crimes.

The armed conflict in Colombia has resulted in more 
than 220,00 deaths and 40,000 people missing over the 
past 50 years.

All sides have been accused of war crimes including massacres, torture and rape.

More than six million people have been displaced - the 
second highest number in the world after Syria.

And 11,000 people have been killed or maimed by land
 mines - a causality rate second only to Afghanistan.