Aid agencies warn that true scale of Colombia disaster is ‘still emerging’

Cafod is among the agencies giving aid, having donated an initial £50,000 to the humanitarian response.

More than 220 people are known to have died with thousands more injured. The numbers are expected to grow further as information is received from the most remote areas where communication has broken down, especially with thousands still missing.

Around 1,100 homes have been destroyed and 8,000 damaged, with health centres, education institutes and community centres among the buildings affected. A national disaster has been declared following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake. 

The epicentre was in San José Del Palmar, in the Chocó region, which is one of the poorest areas that is also under strain from the ongoing armed conflict. 

The true scale of the tragedy is still emerging, particularly in remote rural areas where indigenous communities live, Cafod said. “Attempts at delivering aid are being hampered by damaged roads and broken communications.”

Diana Trimino, head of programmes for Latin America at Cafod, said: “This is a devastating moment for Colombia, and our deepest condolences are with everyone who has lost a loved one. Behind every number is a family, a home and a life changed forever.”

Cafod, alongside church partners, will provide emergency shelter for those displaced and evacuated, and basics such as clean water and food.

“We stand with affected communities today and will continue to support them as they begin the long road to recovery. This is likely to be more challenging as communities also prepare for the expected impacts of El Niño later this year,” she added.

Sciaf, which has been working in Colombia since the 1980s, launched an emergency appeal.

Geraldine Hill, Sciaf’s programme officer for Colombia who lived there for two years, said: “It’s heart-breaking to see communities in Chocó bear the brunt of this latest earthquake. These communities are already very poor and live surrounded by violence, the earthquake is just the latest challenge to confront them. Once again Scia’s local partners are responding as soon as the crisis happens.

“Sciaf sets aside emergency funds in our focus countries to speed up locally-led response. We have immediately released £10,000 from these funds for partners, and we are liaising closely with them to determine how best to help. 

“Through our partners in Chocó, we can immediately reach out to those most in need. Our local Caritas partners are already there, working tirelessly to provide emergency relief where it’s needed the most. Please support this response through SCIAF’s appeal.” 

The Colombian Bishops’ Conference has also expressed solidarity: “This painful moment reminds us that no one can face an emergency of this magnitude alone. We are called to recognise ourselves as one family and respond to the suffering of our brothers and sisters with generosity, responsibility and solidarity. Every act of help, every lending hand, every shared effort is a concrete sign of fraternity and hope.”

Bishops from Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chilealso offered prayers. In a letter sent to Archbishop Francisco Javier Múnera, president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, Argentine bishops said: “We especially share in the pain of the victims and their families, and we accompany with our prayers all the communities affected by this difficult time. We ask the Lord to grant comfort to those who are suffering, strength to those who have lost loved ones, and hope to those facing the consequences of this tragedy.”

To donate to Sciaf’s Colombia earthquake appeal visit sciaf.org.uk/colombia-earthquake or call 0141 354 5555. 

To donate to Cafod’s emergencies fund, visit cafod.org.uk/give/donate-to-emergencies

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