In brief

Programme purpose: Support the five National Societies in the Andean Region, ensuring closer work with the National Societies, to effectively implement the Inter-American Plan 2007-2011.

Programme summary: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)'s Regional Representation for the Andean Region, based in Lima, continued its activities in 2009 to support the membership needs of the National Societies of Bolivia, Colombia,

- Debido al Fenómeno de El Niño el 1er. Trimestre se caracterizó por incendios forestales, sequías, altas temperaturas y escasez de agua. Además se intensificó la actividad sísmica y el regreso de las lluvias comenzó a ocasionar avalanchas.

- 12 muertos, 49 heridos, 418.102 personas (83.737 familias) afectadas, 116 viviendas destruidas, 5.104 viviendas averiguadas, 8 vías afectadas y 3 acueductos afectados.

- Mediante Decreto 0023 fue declarada situación de desastre por incendios forestales. 69.209 hectáreas en 27 Departamentos afectadas

1. Avalancha en el departamento de Chocó

2. Comisión Inter Americana de Derechos Humanos discute situación de Derechos Humanos en Colombia

3. Informe de la Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos sobre Colombia

4. Aumenta violencia en después de las elecciones de congreso

5. Seguimiento: la liberación unilateral de rehenes de las FARC

"The remoteness of the area was a challenge," explains IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia José Angel Oropeza. "To get construction materials to La Chorrera, it is a 15 to 20-day journey by river."

In the past, the community often had to cancel classes because the structure used as a school was prone to flooding.

Avalancha en la comunidad Coredó, resguardo El Chorrito, del municipio de Quibdó, se reportan 7 personas desaparecidas 1 muerta y 8 heridas.

Period covered by this Final Interim Report: 11 March to 30 October 2009

Appeal target: CHF 486,453 (USD 475,293 or EUR 322,033).

Final Appeal coverage: 100%;

Appeal history:

- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on a preliminary basis on 11 March 2009 for CHF 1,110,665 (USD 957,924 or EUR 757,518) for 6 months to assist 25,000 beneficiaries.

- Operations update n=B0 2 reflected a revised budget, as the funding for the initial Appeal target stood at approximately 41 per cent. The budget was therefore revised down to CHF 465,304 (USD

- January: Flood Response Plan mobilised US$ 3.1 million from CERF. Nearly 1.6 million affected in 2008 (46% more than 2007). Avalanche of the Nevado del Huila volcano affects indigenous com-munity in Paez, floods threaten Tumaco (Nariño) and Riosucio (Chocó)

- February: Awá massacre (17 dead) perpetrated by FARC | 1,500 IDPs in Nariño, 1,128 in Cauca (López de M.), 550 in Chocó (Alto Baudó) | Sudden flood in Tumaco affects 31,320 persons settled in high-risk areas

- March: Access jeopardised by illegal

BOGOTA, Colombia, 16 December 2009 - For over 40 years, Colombia has been a nation not only in the throes of conflict, but one consistently hit by natural disasters.

VIDEO: Watch now

Subjected to earthquakes, hurricanes, severe flooding and volcanic eruptions, the country's infrastructure has deteriorated badly, allowing an illicit drug trade to flourish, violence to spread, and social inequities to persist.

"The biggest challenge in Colombia

Bogotá, 25 nov (SP). Con el fin de agilizar los procesos de construcción y reconstrucción de edificaciones afectadas en zonas declaradas en situación de desastre o calamidad p=FAblica, el Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Profesional, emitió el