SWISSAID prepares emergency aid western Colombia; CHF 100,000 allocated to hard-to-reach rural communities
Earthquake in Colombia: SWISSAID prepares emergency aid
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Who we are The foundation The Team Our partners Our institutional donors
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A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia and severely affected several regions of the country. SWISSAID is preparing an initial emergency response of CHF 100,000 to address the immediate needs of affected communities.
Emergency aid for isolated communities
With more than 50 years of experience in Colombia , including in the department of Chocó, SWISSAID intends to act quickly where needs are greatest. An initial CHF 100,000 has already been allocated , with a priority focus on supporting hard-to-reach rural communities . On the ground, SWISSAID’s long-standing partners are closely monitoring the situation and identifying the most urgent needs.
Chocó, located in the area of the earthquake’s epicentre, is one of Colombia’s poorest departments. The disaster is hitting rural communities that were already living in precarious conditions particularly hard. Damage to roads and infrastructure is making access to villages more difficult, while communications remain disrupted in some areas.
Make a donation for people in need
SWISSAID is providing aid to earthquake victims in Colombia and distributing food. Every donation counts!
Damaged homes, limited access to water
The first reports received from our team in Colombia indicates that homes have been severely damaged in San José del Palmar, particularly those of farming families and seed guardians. Further damage has been reported in Risaralda and in El Cairo, in the department of Valle del Cauca.
Access to water has also become a major concern in some areas. Several water supply infrastructures have been damaged in western Colombia, notably in El Cairo, Trujillo and Riofrío. As a result, some communities now have limited access to drinking water and other essential goods.
Donate for victims of the earthquake
As of 12 August, the earthquake has claimed more than 240 lives and injured around 1,300 people. The current toll remains provisional, as access to some remote areas is still difficult. The Colombian government has declared a state of emergency.
What was once considered extraordinary is now a new reality. SWISSAID has adapted to these new conditions in order to provide the best possible help to the target groups in its areas of intervention.
Trust is paramount, and transparency – including financial transparency – remains at the heart of our commitments. Find out how your donations are used and how we work.
For over 50 years, SWISSAID has been working closely with civil society organisations to improve food security in Colombia. Find out more about our projects.
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