Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN Resident Coordinator for Colombia María José Torres warned that recent earthquake in Colombia could increase the risk of child recruitment by armed groups in Chocó and Valle del Cauca, where thousands of children remain out of school in areas already affected by conflict.
Addressing the press María José Torres Macho said, “We had an earthquake that historically has been one of the biggest in Colombia, if not the bigger one, affecting 16 departments. I think this is an evolving data that is increasing the number of departments – practically half of the country, kind of 196,000 families affected, and 331 reported dead.”
She also said, “The search and rescue teams were able to rescue 364 people, which I think it is a highlight in this very tragic event. Obviously, we are talking about homes damaged and destroyed buildings, but also livelihoods and health centers, major hospitals in areas that are very vulnerable are currently inoperable, as well as almost 4,000 educational facilities.”
She continued, “We really need to rebuild very quickly, including the ability of children to be back into a protective educational environment, particularly in the areas that we are working in Chocó and Valle del Cauca. There is presence of the illegal armed groups, and recruitment of children in Colombia is a pre-existing issue. We are concerned that the situation of children out of school can exacerbate this situation.”
In Chocó, some rural schools were destroyed, others partially collapsed and several remain at imminent risk of collapse.
Assessments are also continuing in Risaralda and Caldas to determine which schools can reopen safely.
For the UN, restoring access to education is a priority not only to ensure learning can continue, but also to return children to protective environments.
“Those areas most affected are those areas most vulnerable,” she said, adding that the pre-existing conflict is creating challenges for both the emergency response and recovery.
In Chocó, the UN still does not have complete information on the needs of some rural communities, particularly Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities.
Damage to roads, difficulties travelling along some rivers and electricity and connectivity problems are hampering both assessments and the delivery of aid.
Conflict-related displacement is also continuing alongside the earthquake response.
In Sipí, Chocó, around 95 Afro-Colombian people were displaced from the community of Charco Hondo, with concern that displacement could spread to two neighbouring communities.
Torres Macho also highlighted the role of local authorities and Indigenous and Afro-Colombian organisations, which have been among the first responders in some of the most isolated areas.
At the same time, she warned that some municipalities have limited capacity and are overwhelmed by the scale of the emergency.
Since 10 August, the UN system and humanitarian partners have reached around 72,000 people in 36 municipalities across Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Caldas with food, water, medical care, medicines, shelter, psychosocial support, protection and education services.
Following the earthquake, the United Nations updated its humanitarian response plan and estimates that 1.2 million people need assistance.
Within that group, around 127,000 have been identified as among the most severely affected and in need of priority support, Torres Macho said.
The response requires $148.1 million, but only 40 percent of that has been received.
Among the most urgent needs are shelter, medical care, medicines, safe water, education and support to restore livelihoods.
In some places, available supplies are already beginning to run out. In Caldas, for example, food and hygiene distributions have relied in part on donations, but those stocks are being depleted, and there is not enough capacity to sustain the next rounds of assistance.
Problems also persist in temporary shelters. Among those assessed in Chocó, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca and Caldas, 33 percent have sanitation and hygiene needs, 31 percent face problems accessing water and 22 percent need food.
Torres Macho said the response will also need to move quickly towards recovery and reconstruction, particularly in communities that were already vulnerable before the earthquake.