Indigenous communities in Chocó still incommunicado after major earthquake, Ombudsman warns

The Ombudsman's Office in Colombia has issued a stark warning regarding indigenous communities in the Chocó region who remain out of contact two days after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the country.

The lack of communication is preventing authorities from accurately assessing the full extent of the emergency and determining the precise number of people affected. The earthquake, which occurred on the morning of August 10 with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, has prompted ongoing search and rescue operations.

While preliminary reports from Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, indicate that 14 people have died, 4,506 homes have been affected, and 223 have been destroyed, the Ombudsman's Office stresses that these figures are not definitive. The isolation of several communities means the true impact remains unknown.

In addition to the communication challenges, the Ombudsman's Office also highlighted concerns about the conditions at the sole shelter in Quibdó, which is primarily housing migrants. The office called for necessary improvements to ensure dignified living conditions and strengthened measures to prevent violence against vulnerable groups, including children and women. They emphasized the need for continued support regardless of migratory status and the provision of psychosocial assistance, particularly for minors coping with the earthquake's aftermath and the uncertainty of the ongoing emergency.

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Chocó has finalized the search and rescue phase after the earthquake. This department has shown the solidarity and strength of its people, but now needs...