Bogotá.- Colombia is preparing to receive international aid from countries such as the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Peru to address the emergency caused by the earthquake that shook several areas of the country on Monday, leaving at least 240 dead according to the toll from departmental authorities.
“We have already received proposals from multilateral organizations for 1.3 billion dollars in cooperation of various kinds in the midst of this tragedy,” said Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo on Tuesday, who highlighted that several countries have offered rescue teams, humanitarian aid, and economic resources.
The situation contrasts with the uncertainty that had surrounded the arrival of international assistance until now, as the United Nations indicated that it had not received an official request from Colombia.
«The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that, following the earthquake that affected several areas of the country, the Foreign Ministry made a call to the international community to request support in responding to the emergency to help counteract the critical points with the greatest impact and disaster», the Foreign Ministry noted on its X account.
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International aid
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by instruction of the president, Abelardo de la Espriella, installed an international cooperation command post led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar Bula, to coordinate offers from governments and multilateral organizations.
“The countries of the world have spoken out,” pointed out Restrepo, who mentioned among them Sweden, Turkey, the United States, El Salvador, Japan, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, and Switzerland.
The United States announced the deployment to Colombia of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and $15.5 million in aid for emergency shelter, food, protection, and damage assessment.
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For its part, Ecuador will make available to Colombia 47 rescuers, specialized dogs, and Quito Fire Department teams, while El Salvador will send two planes with 100 tons of humanitarian aid and Peru announced a plane with 12.5 tons of supplies and the deployment of 62 rescuers.
World Bank Donation
The World Bank allocated $200,000 in a non-reimbursable grant to support the assessment of damages caused by the earthquake, as did CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean –, which announced a contribution of $500,000 to address the humanitarian needs generated by the earthquake.
“It is a demonstration that the world today (…) is ready and willing to support Colombia in the midst of this tragedy,” stated Restrepo.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4 according to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC), occurred on Monday at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) and had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, and so far more than a hundred aftershocks have been recorded that have not exceeded a magnitude of 4.0.
The De la Espriella government put the death toll at 188 today, compared to the at least 240 counted by regional authorities.
