Dominican Red Cross activates humanitarian aid campaign for those affected by the earthquake in Colombia
Faced with the difficult situation that Colombia is going through after the recent earthquake that has left a devastating toll, especially in the department of Chocó, the Dominican Red Cross has responded with an urgent call for solidarity. The institution, represented by its president, Dr. Miguel Sanz Flores, and its director general, Blaurio Alcántara, has launched a mechanism to channel financial support from the Dominican Republic.
To facilitate this process, savings account number 0101914894 at Banco de Reservas has been enabled, in the name of the Dominican Red Cross (RNC 401007649). According to the institution’s authorities, each contribution will be transferred in its entirety to the Colombian Red Cross, maintaining a strict commitment to transparency and accountability regarding the use of the funds.
Coordination and transparency in aid
This initiative is supported by Colombian entrepreneurs residing in Dominican territory and is governed by the principles of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality that define the International Red Cross Movement. Director Blaurio Alcántara emphasized that this channel represents an efficient alternative for local donors, allowing contributions to be made in national currency without incurring international transfer costs.
Financial donation is the most effective, fastest, and most dignified way to help in this phase of the emergency, as it allows for the local acquisition of the supplies that the affected population truly needs, while simultaneously stimulating the economy of the impacted areas.
Guidelines for effective collaboration
- Financial donations: These are the current priority to respond to changing needs on the ground.
- In-kind donations: These will only be accepted if the Colombian authorities issue a specific and validated request.
- Fraud prevention: Citizens are advised to avoid conducting uncoordinated collections and to always verify that their contributions are directed exclusively to official channels.
The impact of the earthquake has been described as one of the most severe in the last decade. According to reports from Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), to date there are 265 confirmed deaths, nearly 3,500 injured, and 496 people missing. The tragedy has affected more than 53,000 citizens and has caused severe damage to infrastructure in more than 400 municipalities.
While the Colombian Red Cross leads assistance efforts on the ground, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) continues to coordinate the Disaster Response Emergency Fund to strengthen response capacity in the areas hardest hit by this natural disaster.
