The United Nations announces that it will give $6 million in aid over the next three months to help the victims of Colombia’s harsh rainy season, on the organization’s website.
Colombia’s prolonged winter season has left more than 1.3 million people homeless, affected 28 out of 32 departments, and destroyed 1,750 homes.
The biggest loss of life took place on Sunday when a landslide covered some 35 houses with up to 50,000 cubic metres of mud in Bello, a small town north of Medellin.
“Today we are overwhelmed by the tragedy of Bello, Antioquia, which symbolizes the tragedy of all victims of this winter and presents the most tragic aspect of the disaster. I express the solidarity of the United Nations with the victims of the disaster caused by heavy rains which have been affecting Colombia since April,” said the U.N.’s humanitarian coordinator in Colombia Bruno Moro.
Aid teams from the U.N. and NGOs are currently working to assist victims in the worst-affected areas. These missions focus on humanitarian assistance, providing victims with food, clean water, shelter and health care.
Moro added that “we are working closely with the government of Colombia and national humanitarian actors such as the Colombian Red Cross and the Pastoral Social to reach the most affected communities.”
The Humanitarian Coordinator has activated the Rapid Response Fund Emergency (ERF) which is expected to mobilize additional resources from the international community.
