Overview  of Situation

La Guajira, Colombia, has experienced damages due to severe winter storms this season, with 14,470 families affected, or 68,883 individuals and 78 indigenous communities according to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The constant rains during the last two weeks have generated floods and  overflow of rivers Tapias and Ranchería. They have flooded at least sixteen sectors of Manaure and five of Riohacha. Some 2,720 people have been affected by the floods to date reported in Riohacha and 1,002 in Manaure; however the numbers may be higher since access to several communities has deteriorated.

In the last five days due to the passage of Hurricane Iota, those affected increased and the National Unit for Risk and Disaster Management (UNGRD) has begun to evaluate the impact in collaboration with other entities.

Malteser International has carried out campaigns in partnership with the UNGRD, UNICEF, the Department of Civil Defense, among other institutions in the Iller Acosta and Pasito – Villa Fátima communities that have benefited 450 families.

1. Clinical assessments
2. Distribution of medicines
3. Mental health support

These activities were carried out with a team comprised of:

General Practitioners (4), Psychologists (2), Nurse (1), Nurse Assistant (1), Logistics Assistant (1), Pharmacologist (1), Communications Officers (2).

Riohacha needs help:

• Food security: Food kits for the more than 1,179 affected families
• Water, sanitation and hygiene: Hygiene and biosecurity kits
• Housing: hammocks
• Early recovery: Recovery of livelihoods including crops and animals

Approximate costs:

• Food security (1,179 families): 94,320 USD
• Water, sanitation and hygiene: (1,179 families): 55,581 USD
• Shelter (1,179 families): 23,580 USD
• Early recovery (100 families): USD 170,000.

Manaure needs help:

• • Shelter: Blankets and mats.
  • Food and nutrition security: Food kits for 283 families.
  • Water sanitation and hygiene: hygiene kits

Approximate costs:

• Food security (283 families): 22,640 USD
• Hygiene kits (283 families): USD 13,342
• Shelter (283 families): 25,000 USD

In Riohacha and Manaure, the following necessary health activities are also recommended:

• Clinical assessments
• Distribution of medicines
• Mental health support

Challenges

• There are still difficulties in identifying the most affected people since overflowing rivers have prevented access into the communities.
• Inability of the authorities to attend to so many victims throughout the department at the same time (more than 68,834 for now identified).