Catastrophe in the Chocó: 100,000 people affected and 85% of the area under water!

Catastrophe in the Chocó: 100,000 people affected and 85% of the area under water!

A disaster of terrifying extent shakes the poorest region of Colombia: over 100,000 people are affected, and 85% of the area are under water! In Chocó, in the west of the country, there have been triggering devastating floods, landslides and floods. Fortunately, there are no reports about fatalities so far, but the situation is alarming. Mobility is severely restricted because the population is also affected by the ELEN threats, an armed group. President Gustavo Petro proclaimed the national emergency.

"The uninterrupted rains have increased the levels of the already affected rivers. Chocó is under water. Damage has been reported in 85% of the territory. The water penetrates the houses and tears and crazy and harvested," warns Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi, the governor of Chocó. "This is the biggest emergency that we ever faced as a department. 25 of our 31 communities are affected," she added.

government reacts quickly

Since November 7, it has been raining in Chocó continuously, which caused Gustavo Petro government to set up a crisis team, the "Puesto de Mando Unificado" (PMU), to cope with the crisis caused by the rains. In view of this dramatic situation, Petro even canceled his trip to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to the UN climate conference (COP29) to concentrate on emergency aid.

The effects of the rains are enormous in this region, which has already been plagued by extreme poverty and the influence of armed groups. The people in Chocó are faced with a humanitarian crisis that requires immediate measures to support the affected communities and to combat the impending danger.