January 28, 2011: The catastrophic floods and landslides brought on by severe rains this winter in

Photo by Fernando Espinoza

Colombia have killed more than 300 people and resulted in an estimated $5.2 billion in damages, according to Reuters. More than 1.5 million people in over half the country’s territory have been affected. The devastation stretches across 627 municipalities. Worst hit are the departments of Bolívar, Magdalena, Sucre, Córdoba, and Chocó.

Colombia’s human, crop, and infrastructure damage were not brought on by the effects of one storm but of many. The series of heavy downpours, high winds, hail, and electric storms began slamming into Colombia in June 2010. By November, the erratic weather left families and children homeless or injured from downed buildings and power lines.

The La Niña phenomenon, which occurs every few years in this region of Latin America, is said to be responsible. La Niña refers to a cooler-than-usual sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean that can cause mercurial weather patterns.     

SOS Action in Colombia

The government is carrying out emergency relief activities but also relies on international organizations such as SOS Children’s Villages to deliver immediate help to families in need. With forty years of experience raising vulnerable Colombian children and providing emergency aid during natural disasters such as the nation’s 1999 earthquake, SOS wasted no time in helping the victims of Colombia’s latest batch of unpredictable weather. 

Photo by Fernando Espinoza

SOS emergency relief activities in Colombia are supporting 8,000 children in Bello (in the department of Antioquia), Riosucio (in Chocó) and Tenerife (in Magdalena). SOS is providing food, sanitary supplies, health services, and recreational activities to affected families. Working with local partners, SOS aims to strengthen local communities’ capacity to help themselves in the long term. 

The task is challenging. In the department of Chocó, lying on Colombia’s Pacific coast, flooded areas have been difficult to access. The rivers there have returned to normal levels, but continuous rain has caused new landslides. The local people already suffering from losing their homes and livelihoods are panicking over the possibility of facing further trauma. This is especially the case in the indigenous communities in Jurado, bordering Panamá.

Pulling Out All the Stops to Give Children Hope

Photo by Barbara Mair

SOS gives loving homes, warm meals, education, and hope to children around the world who would otherwise never see these things. During crises like the one facing Colombian families who’ve lost everything to recent storms, SOS steps in to keep households intact and able to care for their children. In Colombia, the extensive network of five SOS Children’s Villages and eight counseling centers is uniquely equipped to reach fragile families. 

Help SOS give children a life of hope before horrible catastrophes like the floods in Colombia happen. Sponsor a child in Colombia or another country, or become an SOS Global Village Builder to provide monthly support to SOS around the world. Find out more ways to get involved at www.sos-usa.org.

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