Devastating rains and floods strike in Colombia

Communities served by Unbound in Colombia are facing significant material damage following days of devastating rains and floods in the country, particularly near rivers.

Last Friday, April 11, the La Pintada community in Antioquia, Colombia, about three hours southwest from the city of Medellin, suffered severe flooding when the Cauca River overflowed. On Sunday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared a “disaster situation” across the country due to excessive flooding, overflowing rivers and landslides. There are approximately 8,000 inhabitants in La Pintada, and according to local authorities, 3,000 people were impacted by the flooding of the Cauca River.

Antioquia government and La Pintada authorities responded promptly and were in communities to provide immediate assistance. At this time, no casualties or serious injuries have been reported among sponsored individuals, families or staff in the Unbound community. Since the intense flooding began, the Unbound program team has been making efforts to identify impacted sponsored families.

Unbound’s Antioquia program has 395 children and youth and 274 elders sponsored in this area, as well as 15 scholarship students. According to Katherine Álvarez, program coordinator, who traveled to the impacted area, 100 sponsored individuals and families have been impacted by the deluge and 30 of those are receiving initial support based on need.

Among those prioritized for initial assistance are elders who have no support network, those with mental and physical disabilities, and families whose houses suffered the most damage.

“Initially we will support these families from the [Unbound] Critical Needs Fund, mainly to provide them with mattresses, doors, windows, vital appliances like a refrigerator, kitchen goods and food provisions, and health care as needed,” Álvarez said.

The rainy season in Colombia is typically April through November. Once flooding subsides and local teams can enter communities, they will conduct additional assessments and continue necessary interventions.

“Many families have lost their animals which were their source of income, such as pigs, chickens and cattle,” Álvarez said. “These families will have to be visited as well, to identify needs and focus the [Unbound] support toward purchasing animals, which can ensure their income.”

Ashley Hufft, president and CEO of Unbound, issued the following statement regarding the unfolding situation in La Pintada:

“While we are relieved that there have been no reported casualties because of the devastating flooding in Antioquia, we know that the situation is dangerous and that there will be families who need to rebuild.

“We must be patient and give crews on the ground time to accurately assess and report back the specific details, but in the meantime, we are praying for all the people who have suffered injury or property damage or loss. We are now receiving more detailed information from our local teams, and we are working to ensure families served by Unbound can meet their immediate needs and to provide emergency funding to help families whose homes and communities sustained damage due to the floods.”

How to help families affected by disasters

As reports continue to come in from the field and Unbound assesses the extent of families’ needs, here are steps sponsors and others can take now to help.

• • Make sure your contact information is current. In times of natural disaster, Unbound notifies sponsors personally if we learn that their sponsored friends have been injured or otherwise seriously impacted.


• • Pray. The Unbound community holds all those affected and those assisting with relief efforts in our thoughts and prayers.


• • Donate to the Critical Needs Fund. The fund assists families in the aftermath of events such as floods, severe storms, earthquakes and fires.

Field Communications Director Henry Flores and Unbound Antioquia program coordinator Katherine Álvarez in Colombia contributed information and photos for this story.