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Colombia

ACAPS Briefing note - Colombia: Flooding in La Mojana (08 August 2024)

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CRISIS IMPACT OVERVIEW

La Mojana’s vulnerability to flooding is multidimensional, involving variables such as geography, deforestation, mining, and poor infrastructure (France 24 25/05/2024). Since 2021, La Mojana has experienced recurrent flooding; the Cara de Gato dam in San Jacinto del Cauca municipality, Bolívar department, has broken down on several occasions under heavy rains and high river discharge in the subregion (ET 16/05/2024; OCHA 10/05/2024). According to the Ombudsman’s Office of Colombia, between August 2021 and January 2023, rainfall and floods affected at least 500,000 people, damaged over 3,000 homes and seven health centres, destroyed 500 homes, and damaged or destroyed 72 educational centres, along with other public infrastructure such as vehicle and pedestrian bridges. These climate events also led to the loss of 47,000 hectares of crops during the same period (IFRC 13/09/2023).

In May 2024, heavy rains caused the failure of the Cara de Gato and Los Arrastres dams. This caused severe flooding that affected at least 32,100 people (11,000 families), including 12,000 children, and the loss of at least 35,000 hectares of crops (OCHA 10/05/2024; ET 09/05/2024; W Radio 08/05/2024; Radio Nacional de Colombia 06/05/2024). By 13 May, landslides blocked roads between Quibdó (Chocó department) and Pereira (Risaralda department), as well as between Bogotá and Girardot (Cundinamarca department), hampering aid delivery (El País 13/05/2024). According to the National Unit for Disaster Management (UNGRD), the Cara de Gato dam will not be able to close this year without a decrease in river flow, which is unlikely with the arrival of La Niña and the second rainy season in Colombia (EE 03/07/2024). The delay in dam repairs is also linked to a corruption case investigated by the Office of the Comptroller General, which dates to the floods of 2021 (ET 14/05/2024; Semana 03/03/2023). Without the necessary repairs of the dam, there is a high probability that future floods would not be controllable and would significantly affect the surrounding communities and infrastructure.

By 11 July, another larger-scale flooding event had hit La Mojana. The dam failure and rainy season led to a large amount of water entering the area, increasing the number of affected people to over 38,000 in San Jacinto del Cauca (Bolívar department), Ayapel (Córdoba department), Caimito, Guarandá, Majagual, San Benito Abad, San Marcos, and Sucre (Sucre department) (OCHA 16/07/2024). Until 31 July, access constraints limited the granular information available on the impact and needs across the affected municipalities.

La Mojana is a subregion of northern Colombia comprising 11 municipalities across the departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, Córdoba, and Sucre. This delta region is a convergence point for the waters of three major rivers: Cauca, Magdalena, and San Jorge. It is known for its rich ecosystem of wetlands, swamps, streams, and forests, which plays a strategic role in balancing the natural environment. With its flat terrain, La Mojana is highly susceptible to flooding, which affects its population of over 450,000 people, half of whom reside in rural areas (MADS 21/03/2024). Illegal gold mining and deforestation also make the region increasingly flood-prone (SWI 25/05/2024).

Non-state armed groups (NSAGs), such as the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AGC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), operate in Antioquia, Bolívar, César, Chocó, Córdoba, and Sucre departments within La Mojana, posing protection risks for the communities already affected by floods and humanitarian access constraints (El País 09/12/2023; Pares 13/10/2023).