Bogotá, Aug 11 (EFE)
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 struck several areas of the country on Monday, leaving at least 240 dead according to departmental authorities.
“We have already received proposals from multilateral organizations for $1.3 billion in various types of cooperation in the midst of this tragedy,” said Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo on Tuesday, noting that several countries have offered rescue teams, humanitarian aid, and financial resources.
This situation contrasts with the uncertainty that had previously surrounded the arrival of international assistance, 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, it has called upon the international community for support in addressing the emergency to mitigate the most severe damage and disaster in the affected areas,” the Ministry stated on its Twitter account.
At the instruction of President Abelardo de la Espriella, the Ministry established an international cooperation command post, led by Foreign Minister Omar Bula, to coordinate offers of assistance from governments and multilateral organizations.
“Countries around the world have expressed their support,” Restrepo noted, mentioning Sweden, Turkey, the United States, El Salvador, Japan, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, and Switzerland among those offering aid.
The United States announced the deployment of a Disaster Relief Assistance Team (DART) to Colombia and $15.5 million in aid earmarked for emergency shelters, food, protection, and damage assessment.
For its part, Ecuador will provide Colombia with 47 rescuers, specialized dogs, and firefighters from Quito, 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.
The World Bank allocated $200,000 in a non-reimbursable donation to support the assessment of the damage 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.
“This demonstrates that the world today (…) is ready and willing to support Colombia in the midst of this tragedy,” Restrepo stated.
The earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale according to the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC), struck on Monday at 7:34 a.m. local time (12:34 GMT) and was centered in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó. More than a hundred aftershocks have been recorded so far, none exceeding a magnitude of 4.0.
The government of De la Espriella today reported 188 deaths, compared to at least 240 reported by regional authorities.
