A 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in Colombia, struck the Chocó and Valle del Cauca regions in August 2026, killing more than 250 people, injuring more than 3,500, and destroying more than 45,000 homes.
The earthquake hit communities that were already stretched thin. More than 1.2 million people in Chocó and Valle del Cauca — over 20% of the population — needed humanitarian assistance before the disaster struck, and more than a quarter lived below the poverty line. Now, with over 2,000 schools damaged or destroyed just as the academic year resumed, more than 300,000 children face heightened risk of recruitment by armed groups and criminal organizations. Some towns in Chocó are reachable only by boat or plane, and damaged roads in Buenaventura are slowing the delivery of aid.
The International Rescue Committee, which has worked in Colombia since 2018 and has reached nearly 450,000 people there, has launched an emergency response in the hardest-to-reach parts of Valle del Cauca. Teams are currently providing mental health support, education, and protection programming, and are preparing to scale up health care and cash assistance as needs grow. In hard-to-reach areas, the IRC's Infopalante.org platform is also helping people find accurate, up-to-date information on available services.
Your gift will help the IRC support families in Chocó and Valle del Cauca as they recover — and help protect children whose safety is now at even greater risk.
Give today to support the IRC's response to the Colombia earthquake and crisis worldwide.
