Humanitarian crisis after the earthquake
The magnitude 7.6 earthquake that shook western Colombia on July 5 left 1.2 million people in vulnerable situations, according to UN data. The Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 135 million dollars are needed to respond to the emergency, focusing on 671,000 people in areas like Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Chocó, and Caldas.
Challenges in access
Although humanitarian teams are deployed in several areas, access remains unequal. Over 400 roads are damaged, complicating logistics in rural and remote areas. OIM specialist Jean-Philippe Antolin highlighted that "practically everything is still urgent" and that the damage assessment is not complete.
Impact on housing and health
Over 134,000 homes are damaged and nearly 30,000 destroyed, with families still unable to consider their homes safe. Antolin explained that "people are sleeping outside out of fear that the roof might collapse on them." The OIM identified 71 temporary shelters for 4,700 people, but many families have settled with relatives or in improvised spaces.
Risks from heavy rains
Heavy rains in cities like Quibdó and Pereira worsen the situation, complicating life in shelters and facilitating the spread of diseases like dengue. Antolin warned that "the rain is also facilitating the spread of vector-borne diseases."
