UN Appeals for $148 Million for Colombia Earthquake Relief

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners launched a second appeal for $148 million on August 22, 2026, to assist victims of a devastating earthquake that struck Colombia earlier in the month. The disaster caused 319 deaths, affected over 280,000 people, and destroyed more than 31,000 homes along with healthcare and educational facilities.

The appeal seeks to provide food, shelter, sanitation, and health services to approximately 671,000 vulnerable individuals. These efforts are intended to complement existing relief operations conducted by the Government of Colombia. To date, donors have provided $35 million, and the Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated $5 million to boost operations.

Despite these contributions, the UN warned that the overall humanitarian response plan remains less than half-funded. This funding gap threatens the ability of aid partners to meet escalating needs, which are further complicated by ongoing armed conflict in the affected regions.