The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on 10 August continues to generate significant humanitarian needs. The earthquake has destroyed more than 31,460 homes and affected 4,996 community centres and 348 health facilities, disrupting access to essential services. More than 282,700 people have been affected, including approximately 76,330 women of reproductive age and 3,050 pregnant women.
Loss of housing, displacement, and disruption of family and community support networks have heightened protection risks. Thousands of families are relying on temporary shelters, where overcrowding and inadequate privacy, lighting, water, and sanitation are increasing exposure to gender-based violence. Some women and their families are sleeping outdoors, further increasing protection risks and creating additional barriers to accessing essential services.
Chocó is among the most affected departments, where the earthquake is exacerbating pre-existing inequalities and vulnerabilities. For pregnant women, particularly those living in rural and remote areas, access to antenatal care, safe delivery, and emergency obstetric services was already limited. The earthquake has further deepened these barriers, leaving many women without access to life-saving maternal health services and referral mechanisms.
At the national level, UNFPA is leading coordination mechanisms on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health to ensure a coordinated response across all affected areas. UNFPA is currently responding in Quibdó and expanding its response to 11 municipalities across Chocó.
In Quibdó, UNFPA conducted a sexual and reproductive health needs assessment and visited the main hospital, identifying critical gaps in essential supplies, emergency reproductive healthcare, and maternal health services. In coordination with traditional ethnic birth attendants and the health system, UNFPA is strengthening the identification of obstetric risks and referral pathways for pregnant women, particularly those living in rural and remote communities.
UNFPA has also conducted protection assessments in temporary shelters and communities in Quibdó and distributed dignity kits to women and adolescent girls. In addition, UNFPA is supporting the identification and referral of survivors of gender-based and sexual violence, providing case management and psychosocial support, and disseminating information on risk mitigation measures and available support services for survivors.
