Families still recovering from a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that affected nearly 487,000 people in western Colombia now face a strengthening El Niño expected to persist into 2027. With its emergency appeal less than a quarter funded, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warns that at least 57,000 people could be left without critical assistance, including housing, water, health care and protection.
IOM launched a USD 30 million flash appeal on 20 August, but only USD 6.5 million has been secured. The funding received will support assistance for around 43,000 people, against a target of up to 100,000.
"Two months on, the emergency is far from over for hundreds of thousands of people in Colombia," said Juan Francisco Espinosa, IOM Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. "Families who lost their homes now face a second shock as El Niño intensifies. Working with the Colombian Government and our partners, we can help families secure safe housing and rebuild livelihoods, but we need urgent funding while it can still make a difference."
The earthquake of 10 August caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and essential services across western Colombia. Although approximately 2,700 people remain in temporary shelters, many more earthquake-affected households need support to repair their homes, restore livelihoods, and regain access to basic services.
On 8 October, Colombia's national meteorological authority, IDEAM, officially confirmed El Niño conditions and warned of risks including water shortages, wildfires, livelihood losses and disruption to essential services. The forecast adds to the pressure on communities still recovering from the earthquake.
Public health and environmental risks add to the challenge facing earthquake-affected communities. According to Colombia's National Institute of Health, dengue cases rose by more than 30 per cent in September in Chocó, Risaralda and Valle del Cauca, while wildfires burned more than 26,500 hectares across the country. Sudden downpours risk triggering landslides on slopes weakened by the earthquake.
According to Colombia's disaster response agency, UNGRD, the 10 August earthquake killed 335 people, left more than 100 missing, damaged nearly 207,000 homes and destroyed 36,000 across 16 departments. More than 286,000 children are still attending classes in temporary arrangements. An IOM assessment found that 87 per cent of affected municipalities are above the national average for multidimensional poverty. In remote areas such as Chocó, damage to roads and essential infrastructure has further disrupted access to basic services, food, markets and humanitarian assistance.
Working with the Colombian Government and local authorities, IOM has moved from emergency relief to early recovery, assisting more than 10,000 people in 51 municipalities and prioritizing Afro-Colombian, Indigenous and rural communities in remote areas. IOM supports 25 of the 32 temporary shelters that still house 670 households, and helps families move to lasting housing through rental assistance, construction materials and repair guidance.
IOM has also provided hygiene kits and water treatment units, deployed medical teams to hard-to-reach municipalities and supported more than 450 rescuers and responders with mental health care. In coordination with the Colombian Family Welfare Institute, IOM has set up child-friendly spaces and protection measures in shelters to help prevent trafficking, child recruitment, exploitation and gender-based violence.
"The challenge now is to support families as they progressively move out of temporary shelters and rebuild their lives and communities through safe housing and sustainable livelihoods," Espinosa said.
IOM is calling for additional funding to help families secure safe housing, restore livelihoods and maintain access to essential services as El Nino strengthens.
