A triple crisis: Earthquake takes a heavy toll on Colombia’s impoverished and neglected region

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Ismael Arias was walking to the market when the catastrophic 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia last week, causing widespread devastation. The region of Choco, where Arias resides, bore the brunt of the disaster. As the first anniversary of the quake approaches, the toll on Choco's impoverished and neglected communities is becoming increasingly clear.

At least 312 people lost their lives in the Aug. 10 earthquake, while 29,000 homes were destroyed, according to figures released by the central government. Choco, already grappling with high poverty rates, inadequate infrastructure, and underfunded health and education services, will face a particularly challenging recovery period.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 69,000 people in Choco were affected or displaced by the quake, representing about 10% of the region's population. More than 200 schools were damaged, and poor internet access will impede children's ability to participate in online lessons.

Choco, largely covered by mountains and rainforests, is one of Colombia's most neglected regions. With around 600,000 inhabitants, mostly Afro-Colombian or Indigenous people, the region is largely inaccessible by road, and the few connecting roads are precarious. Some communities are reachable only by plane or boat, and the rivers can be dangerous to traverse.

Luis Mora, the United Nations Population Fund's representative in Colombia, described the situation in Choco as a "triple crisis": the humanitarian crisis caused by the earthquake, combined with the region's long-standing underdevelopment and the crisis brought about by armed conflict. The agency has been providing hygiene kits to quake-affected women and creating safe spaces within shelters for women.

Quibdo, the regional capital, is home to Colombia's only public hospital, which was ill-prepared for the disaster. The emergency room was overwhelmed by patients with broken bones and other injuries, and 36 patients with multiple fractures were airlifted to a hospital in Medellin due to a lack of personnel and equipment. The hospital's refrigerator, essential for storing blood donations, was damaged by a power surge following the quake, rendering transfusions impossible. A donated refrigerator from Bogota has since been installed.

Camilo Prieto, a doctor with the Colombian Environmental Movement, brought over 2 tons of medical supplies, including electrocardiogram and ultrasound machines, to the region. They also flew aid to remote towns using helicopters and small planes, as land transportation would be extremely difficult. Wiston Mosquera, the Roman Catholic bishop of the Quibdo diocese, hopes that the quake will draw attention to Choco's structural problems, such as poor healthcare facilities, lack of roads, and persistent power supply issues. He emphasized that the region is decades behind the rest of Colombia's regions.