Colombia: Floods - Nov 2024

The Colombian government has declared a national state of emergency for the second time this year due to heavy rains and floods, primarily impacting Chocó and La Guajira. In Chocó, flooding from the Atrato, San Juan and Baudó rivers has affected more than 188,000 people, with strikes in five municipalities by a non-state armed group limiting mobility for at least 20,000 people. In La Guajira, flooding has affected at least 195,000 people, including migrants and refugees. Priority needs include food, shelter, clean water, cooking supplies, hygiene items, and healthcare. The Colombian government is leading the emergency response with support from the Humanitarian Country Team. Other climate-related emergencies are ongoing across the country, including water shortages in Bogotá and floods and landslides in Antioquia, Magdalena, Valle del Cauca, Meta, and Caldas. (OCHA, 15 Nov 2024)

UNOCHA reports, as of 25 November, around 28,500 displaced people and a total of approximately 383,300 affected people across 36 municipalities of the aforementioned affected departments. In addition, 105 schools have been damaged in the Chocó and the La Guajira departments. Over the next 48 hours, more heavy rainfall is forecast over most of the country. (ECHO, 26 Nov 2024)