Help Children 
Affected by the 
Colombia Earthquake

A powerful 7.4 earthquake ripped through western Colombia, causing significant damage across the Pacific Region, with tremors felt as far as Venezuela. The earthquake struck Monday morning while many families were still home or on their way to school or work. It is the strongest earthquake to hit Colombia in a decade, and the Colombian government has declared a national emergency. 

So far, 331 people have been reported killed, including children, 4,519 people have been injured, and at least 240 people are still missing. Approximately 1.9 million people live in the area considered most affected. The situation remains fluid, and the full extent of the destruction and casualties will take time to become clear.

• Approximately 1.9 million people live in the area considered most affected by the earthquake, and 406,113 people are reported to have been affected
• At least 134,341 homes have been damaged or destroyed 
• Schools, hospitals and other critical public infrastructure have been severely damaged, disrupting essential services for communities
• 303 health care facilities have been damaged, including many with maternity wards
• Water and sewage systems have been affected, meaning access to these services is limited for 824,329 people
• Access to food, markets, and livelihoods has been impacted for over 400,000 people, many of whom were already facing hunger and poverty

• Children and families urgently need safe drinking water, food assistance, hygiene supplies, emergency shelter and healthcare. 
• The crisis has affected access to education for 1,014,876 children, with 4,290 schools and learning facilities damaged.
• In some of the hardest-hit areas, 9 in 10 students attending affected schools have no alternative learning spaces available, leaving them in need of safe spaces, education support and psychosocial care.
• There are 1,146 children currently staying in informal shelters. Children who have become separated from their families during the emergency face additional
  vulnerabilities and urgent protection concerns. 
• We have seen first-hand that children are experiencing significant emotional distress following the earthquake. Alongside the loss of homes, schools and community spaces, many children are living with uncertainty and fear. 

Save the Children immediately allocated $400,000 from the Children's Emergency Fund, with funding disbursed within six hours of the earthquake.  So far, we have reached more than 2,934 people, including 1,293 children, with our efforts.

So far, our outreach has included: 

• We have distributed 500 food packages, helping to ensure 1,927 people who were impacted by the earthquake have access to a healthy meal. 
• We have distributed 50 hygiene kits, and 157 shelter kits helping 1,347 people, prioritizing areas impacted by heavy rainfall.
• Establishing safe spaces where children can participate in recreational and educational activities, access mental health and psychosocial support, and receive protection services. 
• We are also conducting rapid assessments, coordinating with teams and partners in affected and nearby areas, and working to source additional supplies. 

Investing in our Children’s Emergency Fund (CEF) is one of the fastest and most effective ways
to support children affected by the earthquake in Colombia.

Our Children’s Emergency Fund means we can act as soon as a crisis hits, and deliver lifesaving support wherever it is needed, when it matters most. It means we have funds ready for when a disaster strikes, so we don’t have to wait to reach children in crises.