Since January, Colombia has been experiencing widespread flooding due to heavy rainfall, with the Córdoba department among the hardest hit. Emergency assistance is being provided by the German and Colombian Red Crosses, supported by the European Union, reaching 167,700 people. Residents like Luz María Muñoz have seen their homes and possessions destroyed in less than a day as rivers overflowed, forcing thousands into shelters, schools, and improvised spaces. Rescue workers navigate waist-deep waters in boats and on foot, supporting affected communities and coordinating with the National Disaster Risk Management System.
The floods have severely disrupted access to clean water, contaminating wells and collapsing pipelines, leaving affected populations without safe drinking water. More than 250,000 people across 22 departments are impacted, highlighting the vulnerability of those living in high-risk areas where environmental degradation and weak planning increase disaster exposure. Families in shelters or stranded in flooded homes face heightened risks of disease, including diarrhoea, skin infections, and dengue, particularly affecting children and older adults.
Humanitarian operations are challenged by the logistics of delivering aid in submerged areas, requiring coordinated efforts to reach displaced populations promptly. The European Union has supported the Red Cross in prioritizing safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in the early response. Measures include emergency water systems, purification tablets, hygiene kits, logistical assistance, and satellite mapping to access isolated areas, ensuring critical support reaches those in need efficiently.
