UN appeals for more funding for Colombia after earthquake emergency

The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal to the international community for an additional $148 million to support Colombia's emergency response following a devastating earthquake eleven days prior. The natural disaster has had a profound impact, affecting 280,000 people, destroying more than 31,000 homes, and damaging critical infrastructure for basic and community services.

According to official figures released by Colombian authorities, the earthquake resulted in 319 fatalities, over 4,500 injuries, and 260 individuals remain missing. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated in Geneva that a critical subset of needs requires $82 million to assist 127,000 highly vulnerable individuals. The most pressing needs are in health, followed by food and nutrition, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, and emergency education.

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The earthquake has worsened a complex humanitarian situation in Colombia. Hundreds of thousands of families already faced needs due to armed conflict and limited access to basic services and livelihoods, especially in rural areas and on the Pacific coast (epicenter of the earthquake).

Laerke emphasized that the earthquake has worsened an already complex humanitarian situation in Colombia. Hundreds of thousands of families were already facing needs due to armed conflict and limited access to basic services and livelihoods, particularly in rural areas and along the Pacific coast, which was the earthquake's epicenter. This new appeal is a supplement to the UN's existing annual humanitarian plan for Colombia, which sought $472 million for 2026. Donors have so far funded 62% of that plan. For the earthquake response specifically, donors have contributed $35 million, with an additional $5 million allocated from the UN's emergency fund.

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There is a subgroup of extreme priority needs that require $82 million to support 127,000 people with high vulnerability.