A powerful 7.4 earthquake has ripped through western Colombia, causing significant damage across the Pacific Region
The earthquake struck Monday morning, while many families were still home or on their way to school or work. This is the strongest earthquake to hit Colombia in a decade.
So far, at least 266 people have been reported killed, including children, and over 3,472 people have been injured, , and at least 496 people have been reported missing, although figures are likely to keep climbing. The earthquake was followed by 103 aftershocks, compounding risks for affected communities. Approximately 1.9 million people live in the area considered most affected by the earthquake.
The situation is evolving rapidly and damage to infrastructure has cut off communications and power in some areas, so the extent of the destruction and casualties will take time to become clear. Initial reports also indicate severe disruptions to essential services such as water supply and healthcare across several cities.
We know at least 45,350 homes have been damaged and 11,789 destroyed, raising concerns that many individuals may be trapped under rubble. Schools and public hospitals have been forced to evacuate, with 1,813 schools and 179 health facilities affected by the earthquake.
The earthquake’s epicentre was near San José del Palmar in Chocó department which, along with Valle del Cauca, is the most affected area and is one of the country's poorest areas, and its weak infrastructure and access to the area being limited by landslides and damaged bridges, is likely to exacerbate the impact of the earthquake. Damage has been reported across 12 departments, including collapsed buildings in major urban centres such as Pereira, Cali, Manizales, and Quibdó.
While search and rescue operations continue, the full scale of the destruction is still emerging. Initial assessments indicate that children and families urgently need safe drinking water, food assistance, hygiene supplies, emergency shelter and healthcare. hundreds of schools have been affected, disrupting learning and leaving children in need of safe spaces, education support and psychosocial care.
Families who have been displaced from their homes are in urgent need of shelter and essential items, and children will need mental health support to cope with the shock and trauma caused by the earthquake.
Children Helping Hands has started emergency response activities and is assessing the impact on children and families in affected areas. We have teams and partners in affected areas and are coordinating efforts to deliver support quickly and effectively.
Our teams have begun establishing safe spaces where children can take part in recreational and educational activities, access mental health and psychosocial support, and receive protection services, including case management for the most vulnerable children.
Please donate to our Children’s Emergency Fund to support children affected by the earthquake in Colombia. Donating to our Children's Emergency Fund means we can act as soon as a crisis hits and deliver lifesaving support wherever it is needed, when it matters most.
$117 could give two displaced families enough food to last them for a month.
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The home of a Children Helping Hands staff member in Cali was destroyed after the strongest earthquake to hit Colombia in a decade. The Children Helping Hands staff member said: "I feel powerless, frustrated, and very sad because the efforts of my entire family over many years vanished in a moment. However, we have been staying strong by being together and facing the situation. At the moment, we are struggling to rebuild our home and, for that reason, we would be immensely grateful for any construction materials or household items that could help us." Children Helping Hands
OUR RESPONSE.
Children Helping Hands has started emergency response activities and is assessing the impact on children and families in affected areas.
Children Helping Hands has a field office in Valle del Cauca, one of the departments most affected by the earthquake, and is launching initial activities in the city of Buenaventura.
Just over a day after the earthquake struck, our teams have begun establishing safe spaces where children can take part in recreational and educational activities, access mental health and psychosocial support, and receive protection services, including case management for the most vulnerable children.
At the same time, we are carrying out rapid assessments to better understand the needs of children to inform the next phase of the response. We have teams and partners in affected and nearby areas who are coordinating efforts to deliver support quickly and effectively. We have
hygiene kits prepositioned and are working quickly to source additional supplies to support children and families.
We stand ready to support with essential relief items as well as education and child protection support as needed, based on the priority needs of children and families.
Save the Children has worked in Colombia since 1985, supporting children affected by conflict, displacement, migration, poverty, climate shocks and other humanitarian crises. We support children and families through programmes focused on education, health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection, and livelihoods Our long-standing presence, local partnerships, and experienced teams in Colombia mean we are well placed to respond quickly and support children and families affected by the earthquake.
By giving to Children Helping Hands’ Emergency Fund, you can help protect a children caught up in emergencies like this latest earthquake in Colombia, helping to protect a child’s life and future.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DONATE TO THE CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY FUND?
Our Children's Emergency Fund is a central pot of funding for emergencies. It gives us the flexibility to respond quickly and wherever the need is greatest. It means we have funds ready for when a disaster strikes, so we don’t have to wait to reach children in crises.
With every year that goes by, crises become more frequent, last longer and affect more people. There are now twice as many natural disasters as there were 20 years ago.
The needs are huge, but so is our determination to reach every last child in crisis. By giving to Children Helping Hands’ Child Emergency Fund, you can help protect a children caught up in emergencies like this latest earthquake in Venezuela, helping to protect a child’s life and future.
Please give to our Child Emergency Fund today. Your donation will allow our response teams to protect children better, faster and for longer.
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