AmeriCares
has responded with emergency aid to Colombia for the 2.2 million people
affected by devastating floods from the heaviest rains the country has seen in
decades. Two shipments of critical
medicines valued at over $3.4 million have been delivered since December for
the 300,000 people who have lost their homes and their livelihood, and
AmeriCares is readying an additional three shipments of aid.
Through
its partner in Colombia, AmeriCares relief efforts have provided anesthetics,
anti-infection and anti-diarrheal medications and supplies to flood-affected
communities covering 60% of the country, including the hardest-hit northern
region. These lifesaving medicines are
critical at this time to combat disease outbreaks such as dengue fever and
malaria that often follow major flooding.
With
more than 300 people killed in the initial flooding, the death toll is expected
to rise due to food shortages and malnutrition resulting from the half-million
acres of farmland and crops that have been destroyed. With so many families forced from their
homes, an estimated 500,000 children face an immediate risk of malnutrition.
“We
are responding to a crisis that has compounded an already overwhelming rate of
chronic malnutrition in Colombia where 15% of the children are malnourished and
suffering from life-threatening nutritional deficiencies.” said Camille
Grippon, director of Latin American global programs for AmeriCares. “In
addition to our initial shipments of emergency medicines, AmeriCares is
committed to supporting Colombia with medical, nutritional and other basic
supplies through the entirety of this long emergency that has affected so many
people.”
Two children receiving emergency supplies from AmeriCares second shipment of aid.
To
specifically help these children in need, AmeriCares has facilitated local
donations of pediatric nutritional supplements.
AmeriCares has also provided a $20,000 local procurement grant to buy
water purification supplies and medicines and is finalizing additional grants
for the Ministry of Health and community organizations to continue supplying
aid in the aftermath of this disaster.
Since 1985,
AmeriCares has delivered more than $51 million in aid to Colombia. Through our local partners, we will continue
to provide holistic care for the country’s most vulnerable populations, while
focusing on maternal and child health, trauma care, and chronic disease
screenings to bring quality health care to help the Colombian people.
