UN continues scaling up response to earthquake in Colombia
Colombia Earthquake: UN Expands Humanitarian Operations
Qinilo.com – International aid efforts are intensifying following the devastating seismic event that struck Colombia. The United Nations announced Wednesday that it is broadening its support for communities impacted by the powerful tremor, which occurred two days prior.
According to Farhan Haq, the UN's Deputy Spokesperson, official statistics indicate the 7.4 magnitude earthquake has claimed more than 200 lives. Additionally, over 2,500 individuals have sustained injuries. Haq provided these updates during a press briefing held in New York. Beyond casualties, residential buildings and critical public infrastructure have suffered extensive damage.
Assessments Underway in Critical Zones
Humanitarian teams are currently conducting evaluations in the most severely affected regions. These include Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo. Relief efforts face ongoing challenges as disruptions to transportation networks, communication systems, and essential public services continue to hinder operations.
Children have seen their homes and schools damaged and are facing growing risks as essential services remain disrupted in the hardest-hit communities.
Tanya Chapuisat, UNICEF's Country Representative, shared these observations regarding the situation affecting younger residents.
UNICEF Mobilizes Early Response
The children's agency is implementing an initial response strategy focused on Chocó and Buenaventura. This initiative targets water, sanitation, and hygiene needs to minimize public health threats and preserve the dignity of families while assessments proceed and services recover.
To date, UNICEF has assisted 22,000 individuals in the Chocó and Buenaventura region, which serves as the earthquake's epicenter. Beneficiaries have received family hygiene kits, maternal care supplies, menstrual kits, and water storage tanks. Having maintained operations in Chocó for more than twenty years, UNICEF coordinates closely with local authorities and national partners.
The agency is also collaborating with the Colombian Family Welfare Institute to enhance child protection mechanisms following the widespread destruction.
Compounding Humanitarian Challenges
Before Monday's seismic event, Colombia was already navigating a multifaceted humanitarian emergency. Ongoing conflict and climate-related disruptions have contributed to this situation. Approximately seven million people in the nation's most vulnerable regions were experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity prior to the earthquake.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) brings nearly six decades of experience to Colombia and maintains a strong presence in several areas hardest hit by the tremor. Acting on the government's appeal for international help, the WFP is organizing support and preparing to assist local communities.
The stocks are located close enough to affected areas to enable a rapid response, with additional supplies available through WFP's regional and global supply networks.
Giulia Baldi, the WFP's Deputy Country Director, explained that pre-existing cash-programme activities will help families address immediate needs. Furthermore, 4,500 tonnes of food stocks already positioned within Colombia can be dispatched quickly if required.
Baldi noted that communities remain concerned about potential aftershocks. She emphasized that the first 72 hours following an earthquake represent a critical window for search and rescue operations, as well as for positioning food and relief supplies before demands increase.
Rescue personnel continue working through debris in the most impacted cities. Individuals across all age groups are being extracted alive from the rubble. "Every minute is vital," the mayor of Cali stated on Tuesday, underscoring the urgency of ongoing efforts.
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