Our hearts and prayers are with the Colombian people after torrential rains triggered severe flooding and mudslides in the city of Mocoa, in southwest Colombia, early Saturday morning.

It is estimated that at least 254 people have been killed and over 200 people are missing, while 400 people are reported injured.

The changing environment has been disastrous for countries like Colombia where heavy overnight rainfall caused several rivers in Mocoa to overflow their banks, sending mud and debris crashing onto houses as people slept and sweeping away vehicles and trees.

Colombia has been hit by several deadly landslides in recent months. Last October, a landslide in the north of the country killed 10 people. A month later, another landslide killed nine people in the southwestern rural town of El Tambo.

The rainy season is just beginning and the threat of more mudslides is very real. Our partners on-the-ground, ABIUDEA and PDP, are part of national networks, which are also situated in Mocoa, and Mlateser International Americas is supporting their local relief efforts.

For the last 3 years, Malteser International Americas has worked in La Guajira and Magdalena on the northern part of Colombia to improve the health of children and families, to better the lives of indigenous Colombians affected by the effects of climate change, to teach locals how to prevent further disasters, and to help families create sustainable futures through new farming techniques.

Though our programs are on the northern coast, Colombia is one country and when one family hurts, we all hurt.

PROJECT GALLERY

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