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Humanitarian situation

OCHA documents humanitarian needs in 401 municipalities across thirteen departments

Editorial illustration for “OCHA documents humanitarian needs in 401 municipalities across thirteen departments”
Illustration éditoriale En Colombie

Updated August 14, 2026 at 9:38 a.m. Colombia time

The organization OCHA updated the assessment of the humanitarian crisis, recording impacts across at least 13 departments and warning of limited access to rural areas.

Thirteen departments within the report’s scope

OCHA identifies Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Chocó and Caldas as the most affected departments. Within the scope compiled by the organisation, 224 people were killed, 2,595 injured and 195 reported missing. UN News says 118 of the 224 deaths were in Valle del Cauca.

Roads and essential services affected

The document lists 73 affected roads and disruptions to electricity, water, health and connectivity. In Chocó, UN News reports that five aqueduct systems require rehabilitation.

Shelter, health and food among the priorities

OCHA lists shelter, healthcare, food, education and protection among the priority needs. The information gaps identified in the report mean this territorial snapshot cannot be treated as exhaustive.

Figures that must remain separate

OCHA’s 224 deaths at 5:30 p.m. do not replace national UNGRD report 014, cut off at 7:20 p.m. with 181 deaths, 2,774 injured and 320 people rescued. OCHA’s 29 so-called significant aftershocks must likewise not be merged with the SGC total of 130, issued under a different definition and cutoff.

OCHA toll and humanitarian scope

OCHA's Flash Update 005, published on August 13, establishes a scope covering at least 13 departments and 401 municipalities. The report counts 53,816 affected people (25,872 families), 266 deaths, and 11,789 destroyed homes. Limited access to rural areas suggests possible under-reporting. These figures are kept separate from the UNGRD toll.

Infrastructure and funding

Interruptions persist in electricity, water, health, and connectivity networks, although no national recovery rate is available. Additionally, the implementation of 5 million USD from the CERF fund is underway, with priority given to hard-to-reach rural areas.

Update history

Sources and transparency