Catalan cooperation mobilizes for children affected by the earthquake in Colombia

The aftermath of the strong earthquake that shook Colombia on August 10th continues to require intensive intervention on the ground. The destruction of the social and educational fabric has become the main threat to communities in regions such as Chocó and Valle del Cauca. With more than 1,600 schools damaged , thousands of children have had their school routines interrupted and have been exposed to situations of helplessness.

Faced with this scenario, the response from Catalonia has been structured around the protection of children's rights , direct coordination with local Colombian associations and emergency funding .

The Department of the European Union and Foreign Action , through the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD) , is making 600,000 euros available for the reconstruction of the country and the protection of children. These resources are mainly intended for the rehabilitation of educational infrastructures and the support of organizations that intervene in the most affected municipalities.

In parallel with the sending of funds, the Generalitat has held meetings with the Catalan community centers in Colombia and with representatives of the Colombian community residing in Catalonia to assess the situation and coordinate support. In this context, the Minister for European Union and Foreign Action, Jaume Duch , has highlighted " the Government's commitment to responding to a humanitarian emergency situation by allocating resources where they are needed and working with actors with the knowledge and capacity to reach those who need it". He also comments that "Our objective is to support the most vulnerable population. Colombia is a country very close to us and the presence and contribution of Colombian citizens living in Catalonia makes this gesture of solidarity even more important. It is about providing a useful, efficient and coordinated response with the actors who are already working on the ground", he stressed.

Part of this allocation ( 250,000 euros ) is channeled through projects with UNICEF to carry out immediate actions:

• Provisional learning spaces: Installation of temporary infrastructure to resume classes and prevent school dropouts in areas such as Buenaventura or Litoral del San Juan .
• Psychosocial care: Intervention teams to address the trauma of children, families and teaching staff.

• Protection mechanisms: Mobile devices to prevent family separation and situations of violence or exploitation in crisis contexts.
   

  In addition, funds are allocated to multilateral United Nations initiatives (such as the OCHA CERF fund ) to cover housing needs, healthcare and access to drinking water.

The value of community action on the ground

One of the keys to this mobilization is the commitment to the grassroots associative fabric . Through funds such as those channeled with Fondo Lunaria and the Colombian Red Cross , support is not limited to large cities, but also extends to rural and isolated communities . This local work is what guarantees direct attention to families who have become homeless.

In our country, solidarity also translates into constant support for the Colombian community residing in Catalonia and in the monitoring carried out by cooperation entities such as Oxfam Intermón , Acció contra la Fam , Farmamundi or the organizations integrated into the Emergency Committee ( Aldeas Infantiles SOS , Educo , Entrecultures , Doctors of the World , Plan International and World Vision ).

The effective channeling of citizen support

The entities that intervene in humanitarian crises once again emphasize the importance of responsibility in solidarity : direct financial contributions to specialized NGOs are the most effective way to respond to the real needs of the population. Unlike material collections - which often generate a logistical bottleneck and high transport costs -, monetary funds allow organizations to buy supplies in local markets, while reactivating the economy of the affected areas .