Powerful earthquake strikes Colombia, killing or injuring hundreds of people.
Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed or injured after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia's Chocó region on Monday 10 August at 7:34am local time. The earthquake has caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure, leaving many buildings in ruins and trapping people beneath the rubble as search teams continue looking for survivors.
This disaster comes at a time when Colombia is already facing multiple, overlapping humanitarian challenges. Even before the earthquake, armed conflict, disasters and migration flows were exacerbating protection risks, food insecurity and the spread of disease. Around 10.3 million people, including 3.7 million children, were already in need of humanitarian support across the country before the earthquake struck. UNICEF is working in Colombia supporting children and families in need to access healthcare, nutrition, protection, education and other essential services.
UNICEF has been on the ground in Colombia for over 70 years and stands ready to scale up our response to help children and families impacted by the earthquake.
When disaster strikes, UNICEF is there to help protect and support children and families.
The earthquake comes less than two months after devastating back-to-back earthquakes struck neighbouring Venezuela, killing over 6,100 people and causing widespread destruction – underscoring the vulnerability of communities across the region.
In response, UNICEF scaled up its humanitarian efforts in Venezuela, reaching tens of thousands of people with healthcare, critical water, sanitation and hygiene supplies, and child protection services. Today, UNICEF remains on the ground, continuing to support children and families with essential services and ongoing recovery assistance.
How UNICEF responds to disasters
When disaster strikes, UNICEF is there to help protect children and families and support their most urgent needs, including:
- Emergency health care
- Safe drinking water
- Sanitation and hygiene supplies
- Temporary shelter
- Essential household items
- Child protection and psychosocial support
UNICEF teams are on the ground assessing urgent needs following the earthquake and mobilising support to help children and families affected by multiple overlapping crisis.
How will my donation help children in Colombia?
Throughout this, UNICEF is continuing to work with our partners to provide lifesaving healthcare, protection and water, sanitation and hygiene to families in need.
- $100 could help provide 255 vaccine doses, ensuring that children's futures are protected against preventable but dangerous diseases.
- $127 could help provide 252 sachets of Plumpy'Nut®, a therapeutic paste, which is enough to help two children with severe malnutrition recover through a full course of treatment.
- $460 could help provide hygiene and dignity kits for seven families, each packed with emergency supplies including soap, water containers, cleaning products and reusable menstrual products.
- 76¢on average, 76 cents to every dollar spent for the past three years went directly to helping children in need, including long-term programs, emergency response and community education.
- 24¢on average, 16 cents to every dollar spent for the past three years went to essential fundraising costs that helped us generate more impact for children, 8 cents went to admin costs, such as keeping your personal data safe.
How do we use each dollar donated?
