Alert

Colombia - 1/2007

Geneva, 16 July 2007

Colombian floods are intensifying dramatically

Since July 7, 2007, heavy rainfalls have raised the water levels and burst the banks of the two Colombian rivers, the Sinú and the San Jorge in the Cordoba department. According to local authorities, an estimated 55,000 people are left homeless. The floods swept away cattle farms, homes, schools and crops. At least 1,750 hectares of land have been affected by the floods and the Governor declared a red alert for the municipalities that border the two rivers.

In the Arauca department the rains have burst the banks of the River Arauca at the Venezuelan border. Hundreds of families were forced to move because of the rising flood waters - people who had already fled their homes because of the internal armed conflict and had settled in marginal areas along the river banks. At least 300 displaced families are now living in appalling conditions in urban slums and require short-term assistance.

The country was already affected in March of 2007 by heavy rainfalls and strong winds, which caused floods and landslides that affected 560,000 Colombians and caused 60 deaths in 198 municipalities in 27 departments. In north-west Cordoba and in the eastern part of the country in Arauca, local authorities report the loss of 16,000 hectares of crops and nearly 6,000 heads of cattle.

Rains are forecast for the following weeks, raising concerns of more floods in the area. Government authorities have started evacuating people affected by the floods and providing humanitarian aid. The government has requested international assistance in order to respond to the crisis.

In response to the situation, ACT International members are planning to respond in the departments of Cordoba and Arauca, in which they are engaged in relief and development work together with their national partners.

Diakonie Emergency Aid and their partner organization Benposta, which implements projects for vulnerable children and adolescents, are currently assessing the possibility to support the affected population in the department of Cordoba. The Lutheran World Federation - Department for World Service, together with its partner organization Comité Permanente are assessing the situation and are looking to provide basic needs relief.

Both ACT members are preparing a request for a rapid response fund, that will include water purification and sanitation, psychosocial support, shelter, clothing and educational material.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.