The U.S. government has announced $15.5 million in emergency relief aid to Colombia after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country on August 10. The funding will go toward emergency shelter, food, protection assistance, and post-earthquake structural assessments.
Relief Efforts
Members of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) began arriving in the region on the day of the quake. The team—composed of humanitarian and disaster experts—is tasked with assessing local conditions, identifying critical needs, and coordinating relief operations alongside local authorities and U.S. embassy staff in Bogota.
The U.S. State Department noted that it is maintaining contact with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and government officials to evaluate damages and guide ongoing emergency actions. The response relies on several non-governmental organizations and international agencies to distribute aid, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the International Organization for Migration, Miyamoto International, the UN World Food Program, and World Vision.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
