Rains in Southern Colombia Cause Humanitarian Emergency
The Putumayo department is one of Colombia’s southernmost administrative divisions, bordering Peru and Ecuador, which also serves as entrance into the Amazon rainforest region. Even though the Putumayo department is sparsely populated, its capital city, Mocoa, is home to a population of more than 40.000. Through the nighttime hours between Friday, March 31st and Saturday, April 1st, the Putumayo department experienced the largest natural and humanitarian disaster in Colombia’s modern history. Heavy rains that lasted several hours caused three main rivers and a creek to flood, which unleashed major mud and landslides into the capital city of Mocoa. A sea of water and debris wiped out whole sections of the city claiming the lives of more than 240 individuals, including children, and leaving behind over 100 injured. Most of the city’s the key bridges collapsed and the hospital was quickly overwhelmed. By the early morning hours of Saturday the waters had somewhat receded and the emergency responders as well as the Colombian army had made it to the scene.
Rains in Southern Colombia Cause Humanitarian Emergency
Throughout the weekend, President Santos and all competent authorities have been working around the clock to provide shelter and aid to those affected by the natural catastrophe. Most of the injured have been evacuated to hospitals in larger near-by cities and road access to Mocoa has been reestablished through temporary bridges. The international community quickly voiced its solidarity with the Colombian people, while aid is being collected and distributed to those in need. For instance, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) already pledged US$200.000 in donations towards humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of the city. The material reconstruction of Mocoa will take months and the human loss is certainly irreparable. However, enhanced infrastructure and reinforced construction practices will help prevent future catastrophes throughout Colombia’s southern and Amazonian departments, which are the most prone to heavy rains and landslides. Additionally, increased deforestation throughout the Putumayo department in recent years has made the region more vulnerable to dangerous landslides. Thus, highlighting the need for sustainable and structured development practices in the future.
The natural disaster in Mocoa is limited to the southern department of Putumayo. The rest of the country, though shocked by this incident, is safe. While rain is an everyday phenomenon throughout Colombia, heavy and sustained rains can be rare in many parts of the country. Farmfolio’s thoughts are with the people of Colombia and we are committed to helping those affected by the natural disaster in the Putumayo department. Anyone interested in contributing to the recovery efforts can reach out to Farmfolio to be directed to the appropriate authorities and aid organizations. Our operations continue as normal and are not affected by the incidents that struck the south of the country.