Silvia Ballén, Bogotá, Colombia
The heavy rains that lashed the Pacific region of Colombia in the first two months of the year caused the rivers Mira and Telembí in the department of Nariño, bordering on Ecuador, to overflow their banks on 16 February, severely affecting various municipalities, including Sotomayor, Barbacoas, Mallama, Ipiales and Tumaco.
Rains like these normally occur in Colombia during the rainy season, although they seem to have come early this year. The figures so far reveal 33,860 people affected, 2 people dead, 22 people missing, 1,125 homes destroyed, 1,400 homes damaged, 16 rural districts devastated, 3 aqueducts damaged, 20,000 ha of crops ruined and roads blocked by landslides and collapsed structures.
Esneida has worked tirelessly to help others
Esneida is 25 years old, has four children, is seven months pregnant and is head of her household. They are one of 6,772 families affected by these weather events in the department of Nariño. She recounts that it had been raining for several days in a row and the river had begun to swell to a dangerous level. "Before we knew it, the water was pouring into the houses and had covered the beds. I lost everything; I was not able to salvage anything, no clothes, no food, nothing. I just grabbed my children and ran." Today, Esneida is in a shelter set up in a school in the Tangarial district, where she receives food and sleeps on a mattress with her small children aged 3, 5, 8 and 12. She not only receives assistance, but also assists her neighbours, carrying out various tasks in the shelter.
With tears in her eyes
Esneida explains that needs are great in the shelter. "I am very grateful that the Red Cross is here. They have helped us at this very difficult time. We have a roof over our heads, but we don't know how many more days we will have to stay here. There are many children here who need water, food and clothes, because the river did not give us time to take our belongings with us". With tears in her eyes, she says to a Red Cross volunteer: "My children and I have lost everything, but I know that, at this time, the community needs support, words of encouragement to start over. This situation is very difficult; it is very sad to think that you no longer have your own little house and that you have to rely on the solidarity of the Colombian people".
Esneida works with the volunteers. The work of the Colombian Red Cross Society in the emergency area is focused on providing technical assistance to the eleven temporary shelters that have been set up in seven districts in the municipality of Tumaco. They are running two shelters in the Tangarial district and one in the Cajapi district. They also analyse water in order to supply safe drinking water through the water treatment plans of the Colombian Red Cross Society, and food and non-food items have been distributed. Esneida has participated in these operations and supported the efforts of the volunteers.
It is hoped to assist over 2,000 families affected by the floods, thanks to the Colombian Red Cross Society's own resources and the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.