Bogotá — June 4, 2026 — Following the success of its pilot phase, the SHARP Consortium (Response Where Needed) has been officially launched by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Première Urgence Internationale (PUI), aiming to reach nearly 60,000 people in conflict- and disaster-affected regions of Colombia.
The launch event gathered representatives from the European Union, humanitarian organizations from Denmark and France, and Colombian partners including Benposta, Proinco, Corprodinco, Apoyar, Hospital Ship San Raffaele, and the Magdalena Medio Peace and Development Program. These groups will operate in territories with limited institutional presence and high humanitarian risks.
Colombia continues to face escalating armed conflict, mass displacement, and natural disasters. According to OCHA, in 2025 nearly 1.7 million people were affected by armed violence, while 611,000 were impacted by disasters. SHARP’s integrated response will combine protection services, basic needs assistance, and primary healthcare, while strengthening disaster preparedness and community resilience.
Yann Cornic, DRC Country Director for Colombia, emphasized the localized approach: “SHARP was created to strengthen response capacity alongside national organizations, because they deeply understand the dynamics and needs of the communities they serve.”
A core component of the consortium is the progressive transfer of leadership and capacities to local actors, ensuring sustainability and empowering communities to prevent, mitigate, and respond to evolving protection risks.
The alliance will operate in priority municipalities such as Tumaco, Barbacoas, La Tola, Tibú, El Tarra, Sardinata, Saravena, Arauquita, Arenal, Montecristo, Arauca, Tame, and San Jacinto del Cauca, among others historically affected by conflict.
Through this initiative, SHARP seeks to establish itself as a leading model of integrated humanitarian response in Colombia, combining international expertise with community leadership to deliver assistance where it is needed most.
