Tragedy in Colombia: Earthquake leaves hundreds of victims and thousands affected
Colombia is going through a moment of deep dismay following the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the west of the country last Monday. According to the most recent reports issued by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, the earthquake has claimed the lives of at least 239 people, while the number of injured has risen to 3,755.
The epicenter of this seismic movement was located in the town of San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó. 48 hours after the disaster, the outlook remains critical, with 287 people reported missing and more than 24,324 families who have lost their homes or have seen their living conditions seriously affected.
International response to the emergency
Given the magnitude of the catastrophe, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an emergency appeal with the goal of raising 30 million dollars (25 million Swiss francs). These resources will be used to strengthen the assistance and relief efforts led by the Colombian Red Cross in the hardest-hit areas.
The main objective of this fundraising is to strengthen local response capacity and ensure humanitarian support for approximately 24,000 people over the next 24 months.
It should be noted that, immediately following the event, the organization had already mobilized an initial allocation of 1.2 million dollars from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund, in order to expedite humanitarian aid during the most critical moments following the earthquake’s impact.
