Colombia earthquake: 1.2 million need aid as some communities remain out of reach

Humanitarian partners are seeking $135 million to respond to needs created by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which struck on 10 August, according to a new addendum to the UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan for Colombia.

The response aims to reach 671,000 people, initially concentrating on the hardest-hit departments of Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Chocó and Caldas.

Speaking from Quibdó, the capital of Chocó and one of the areas worst affected, Jean-Philippe Antolin, a humanitarian response and recovery specialist with the UN migration agency (IOM), said the full extent of the disaster was still emerging.

“There are communities that haven’t been accessed yet, or have only been accessed once,” he told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.

“Pretty much everything is still urgent.”

Fearing collapse

Latest government figures cited by UN agencies indicate that more than 300 people have been killed, 426 remain missing and more than 4,500 have been injured across 472 municipalities in 15 departments.

More than 134,000 homes have been damaged and nearly 30,000 destroyed, while at least 413 roads have been affected, complicating access to some communities.

For many families, even homes that remain standing cannot yet be considered safe.

“From outside, some might not look affected. But if you go inside, you will see cracks everywhere,” Mr. Antolin said.

“People are sleeping outside for fear of the roof collapsing over their heads.”

He said structural assessments were urgently needed so families could then start returning safely. 

IOM has identified at least 71 temporary collective accommodation sites housing around 4,700 people across Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Chocó and Caldas. Others are staying with relatives, renting accommodation or living in improvised spaces.

Mr. Antolin warned that formal shelters should not become “magnets” for assistance while families staying elsewhere go without help.

Rain aids disease spread

Recent heavy rains in several earthquake-affected areas, including Pereira, Buenaventura and Quibdó, are worsening conditions for families in temporary or improvised shelters.

“The rain is also making it easier for vector-borne diseases to spread, such as dengue,” Mr. Antolin warned.

In Chocó, overflowing water sources and exposure to contaminated water are also increasing the risk of diarrhoeal and respiratory illnesses.

Across affected areas, at least 50 hospitals have suffered severe damage, while disruptions to electricity, water, oxygen, medical supplies and transport are piling more pressure on health services.

Rural impact still unclear

Beyond the immediate emergency, the impact on rural livelihoods remains largely unknown.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said there was a “critical information gap” over damage to crops, livestock, artisanal fishing, irrigation systems and harvests.

Many affected rural, riverine and coastal communities depend heavily on family farming and artisanal fishing, but the full extent of the destruction has yet to be established.

FAO also warned that the earthquake coincided with crop planting and harvesting in some areas, meaning the loss of a production cycle could leave families with fewer resources for the next season.

UN response scales up

UN agencies are expanding assistance as needs continue to emerge:

• IOM has launched a $30 million appeal covering shelter, accommodation sites, water and sanitation, health, protection and recovery over the next six months.
• The World Food Programme (WFP) has begun delivering emergency food assistance in Pereira and Quibdó and is preparing to expand to other affected areas, while seeking $23 million to assist around 100,000 people.
• The UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) is deploying mobile teams in Chocó to support survivors of gender-based violence and pregnant women, while providing hygiene and maternal supplies.
• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is providing water, sanitation and hygiene support to affected families and working with national authorities on child protection.
• UN relief chief Tom Fletcher has released $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the Government-led response.

Although recovery efforts are beginning, Mr. Antolin stressed that immediate humanitarian needs remain acute.

“Recovery starts from day one,” he said. “But it takes time. It’s been only ten days.”