The World Food Programme delivered emergency food parcels to communities in western Colombia following a devastating earthquake that struck on Aug. 10, 2024 [1].
The relief effort is critical as thousands of survivors face immediate food insecurity after the disaster destroyed essential housing and infrastructure across the region.
The earthquake, which measured magnitude 7.4 [1], centered on the Chocó department in western Colombia [1]. The disaster resulted in at least 287 deaths [1].
Destruction of property was widespread. More than 26,000 dwellings were destroyed overall [1]. In the Chocó department alone, about 3,100 homes were destroyed [1].
World Food Programme staff coordinated the distribution of nutrition parcels to reach survivors in the most affected zones. These parcels provide immediate sustenance to families who lost their homes and livelihoods in the quake.
International support has expanded to meet the scale of the crisis. The U.S. provided $11 million in additional humanitarian assistance [5] to support recovery efforts in the region.
Local authorities and international agencies continue to assess the damage in Chocó, a region that remains the epicenter of the catastrophe [1]. The focus remains on preventing further loss of life through the delivery of food, water, and medical supplies.
“The disaster resulted in at least 287 deaths.”
The scale of destruction in the Chocó department underscores the vulnerability of western Colombia's infrastructure to high-magnitude seismic events. The reliance on the World Food Programme and U.S. funding indicates that local capacity was overwhelmed, highlighting a need for strengthened regional disaster response frameworks to handle mass displacement and food insecurity.
