Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
SITUATION
According to IDEAM’s reports the transition
to dry season in the North, Center and East
of the country is starting, especially in
the inter-Andean valleys. On 13 December,
even though the rainfall levels had
decreased over the Magdalena and Cauca
river basins, a new emergency caused by the
collapse of a dyke in the Magdalena River
caused flooding in El Plato municipality.
In this municipality, eight out of eleven
jurisdictions were affected and most of the
population has been cut off electricity and
water supply. Press reports indicate that
over 200,000 persons had been affected
along the riverside municipalities, namely:
El Banco, Pedraza, Cerro de San Antonio,
Concordia, Pijiño del Carmen, Santa Ana,
Sitionuevo, Regidor and Río Viejo (South
Bolívar).
Water levels have decreased in the Cauca
River the but remain above critic levels in
La Virginia municipality (Risaralda) and
Caucacia (Antioquia) up to the confluence
with the Magdalena River. This also
includes La Mojana area. In addtion, in the
Lower Atrato the alert remains. Currently
the official figure of affected population
by the floods amounts to 1,157,091. Eight
needs assessment missions were
simultaneously carried out by the UNETT
(from 3-7 December) to evaluate the
situation of affected populations in: La
Mojana, Volcán Nevado del Huila, Chocó and
Magdalena Medio. In all cases, the
assessments concluded that the most
critical effects of the situation were:
water borne diseases, food shortages due to
the loose of crops, and destroyed and
damaged infrastructure (including houses).
Chocó:
The intensity of rains resulted in the
overflow of the department’s main rivers:
Atrato, San Juan and Baudó; as well as
landslides in the two main roads in the
Department. According to regional
authorities more than 130,000 persons
located in 70% of the department are
affected.
It should be noted that Chocó is the
poorest department in the country and that
the floods have notably increased the
vulnerability of the local populations,
mostly Indigenous and Afro-Colombian
communities.
According to the needs assessment the most
urgent requirements in the region are:
shelters, rehabilitation of houses and
social infrastructure (i.e. hospitals,
schools, cemeteries and roads). Lack of
access to save water has increased risks of
water born diseases in the region. Finally,
the loss of crops and livestock already has
created food shortages.
La Mojana:
Like in Chocó, La Mojana is one of the
poorest regions of the country, with
important levels of poverty and
vulnerability. The houses destroyed were
located in unsafe areas with really limited
access to basic health services. The floods
damaged almost the entire healthcare
system, both equipments and drugs,
seriously affecting the provision of
primary health care. Water and sanitation
systems were also affected, due to the
contamination of water points and the
collapse of savage systems.
Volcano Nevado del Huila:
The eruption of the Nevado del Huila
volcano on 20 November triggered an
avalanche over the basin of the Páez River
causing serious damages on roads, specially
the one that communicates to Belalcázar and
other indigenous reservations in the area.
Furthermore, on November 23 the heavy rains
caused the overflowing of El Salado River
generating new damages.
According to the needs assessment the most
critical situation occurs on the indigenous
reservations of Toéz, Huila, Tálaga and
Coetando. In this area is urgent the
rehabilitation of roads to guarantee
transport of people, humanitarian
assistance, commerce and communication.
Elements like fuel, clothes, shoes, and
sanitation and habitat kits are required.
It is necessary to strengthen the alerts
system handled by the National System for
Disasters Prevention and Attention (SNPAD)
through the installation of solar panels
and chargers to radios and cell phones and
improve the shelters.
Magdalena Medio:
Rains affected economic activities that are
essential for the survival of the
communities in the region. The food
security situation is worrisome as well as
the inadequate conditions of water and
sanitation. In particular, the lack of
clean water and difficulties to access
health and prevention programs are
troublesome. The situation is particularly
critical on the rural areas where the
humanitarian assistance scarce.
One of the priorities should be
rehabilitation of destroyed houses and
community centres, since those premises
will be used by local authorities and local
aid organizations to resume the delivery of
emergency aid.
Attachments:
Full_Report.pdf:
