Summary
Since January heavy rains have affected
many parts of Colombia causing widespreaddamage due to flooding, and landslides.
Over 200,000 persons have been directly affectedlosing their homes, crops
and livestock. The rains continue and more are predicted as aresult of
the "El Niño effect". The Colombian Red Cross together with other
NGO's andtheir Government has been providing assistance via their branches
since January 1996. The have distributed from their regional warehouses
and from the central warehouse inBogota. Additional items have been purchased,
and funds have been raised for assistanceto volunteers and transport and
distribution costs. The Government is providing food fordistribution by
the Colombian Red Cross. This operation has been growing to the pointwhere
the Colombian Red Cross now requests assistance from the Federation in
the formof a grant from the Disaster Relief Emergency Funds. CHF 64,500
is being sent today.
1. The Disaster
Unusually heavy rains have fallen in the provinces of Cordoba, Magdalena, Bolivar, Guajira, Sucre, Atlantico, Cesar and part of Antioquia beginning already in January of thisyear. During June and July rains intensified causing heavy flooding and destroying crops, livestock along with homes of the poor, cutting off some villages and rural areas. A seriesof mud slides has increased the death and destruction. To date there are over 200,000persons directly affected by these disasters. At present 36,000 hectares are under water. Temporary shelters have been opened although many of the families do not want to leavetheir homes. The rains continue and more rain is predicted..
2. Response in favour of the victims until today
The Colombian Red Cross began their assistance programme already in January via thevolunteers and staff in the branches in the affected provinces. Relief items in regional warehouses were distributed and additional relief items have been sent from the Central