Colombia earthquake strikes at challenging time
Aid organizations responding to the powerful earthquake that hit Colombia on Aug. 10 face significant challenges, including difficulties accessing some of the worst-hit areas in remote western regions that have been seeing rising violence. Emergency response teams are still assessing the damage, but at least 181 people have already been reported killed and nearly 1,250 injured. It is feared the toll could rise significantly, with many more trapped under the rubble or missing.
Speaking at a press conference hours after the 7.4-magnitude quake struck at 7:34 AM, President Abelardo de la Espriella, who only took office last week, said more than 1,500 residential buildings, 18 health centers, and 52 schools had been damaged. An update on Aug. 11 from the Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales) said 153 buildings had collapsed.
The earthquake comes at a tough time for Colombia. The country was already facing its worst humanitarian crisis in years, with rising violence by armed groups making it increasingly difficult for aid organizations to address mounting needs in conflict zones.
In Chocó department, where the earthquake's epicenter is located, restrictions on humanitarian aid are common. The region is not only one of the poorest in the country but also one of the hardest hit by armed conflict, with more than 21,000 people experiencing "forced confinement"—the highest number in the country, according to Colombia's Ombudsman's Office.
Armed groups have sought to increase their control over communities as they fight each other for control over key territories, leaving remote communities even more isolated. The quake has now rendered some of them—including Chocó’s San Juan and Baudó river regions—completely unreachable.
— Lara Loaiza Arias for The New Humanitarian, Aug. 1, excerpt. Internal links added.
Colombia's fumbled earthquake response
As Colombia nears two weeks since the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake of August 10, popular dissatisfaction with the response of the new administration of far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella continues to mount. On Aug. 16, anger was directed at Jaime Beltrán, the government's housing minister, who was spotted relaxing at the beach only 10 days after being sworn in. The same day, de la Espriella visited the city of Buenaventura and held a press conference where he announced measures to help in the city's reconstruction. He quickly erased much of that goodwill by tossing out branded soccer balls to children, much to the chagrin of activists demanding real aid who have been left to play a leading role in their own recovery efforts. In response to the flawed relief effort, the left-wing opposition—led by former President Gustavo Petro and recent candidate Iván Cepeda—delivered its first televised address to critique the government. The situation remains dire across the country: towns across the isolated Chocó department are desperate for help; thousands of schools, roads, and health clinics remain inoperable; and the death toll continues climbing, reaching 319 by last count. (NACLA Update)