An earthquake in Colombia’s Pacific region has taken more than 300 lives and left over 30,000 families without homes. In response, we’re launching a $1.5 million fund centered on equitable, community-led recovery—one that strengthens local authorities’ capacity to distribute resources fairly, gives communities and organizations a leading role in shaping their own recovery, and helps local groups sustain their work well beyond this crisis.
$1.5 Million Rebuilding Fund for Earthquake Recovery in Colombia

ALT $1.5 Million Rebuilding Fund for Earthquake Recovery in Colombia

More than 300 lives were lost and over 30,000 homes destroyed in the earthquake that struck Colombia’s Pacific region. Our emergency fund will: Strengthen the capacity of local authorities in Buenaventura and Chocó to distribute resources equitably and improve disaster response; Place local communities and organizations at the center of designing and implementing recovery efforts; Fund local organizations so they can sustain their work and emerge from this crisis with greater capacity and influence.

ALT More than 300 lives were lost and over 30,000 homes destroyed in the earthquake that struck Colombia’s Pacific region. Our emergency fund will: Strengthen the capacity of local authorities in Buenaventura and Chocó to distribute resources equitably and improve disaster response; Place local communities and organizations at the center of designing and implementing recovery efforts; Fund local organizations so they can sustain their work and emerge from this crisis with greater capacity and influence.

Aug 27, 2026 · 5:08 PM UTC

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This effort builds on Open Society’s longstanding presence in the region and complements the response already underway from Colombia’s national government, local authorities, private sector, and civil society groups. Learn more: osf.to/45MTpAt
“Our support will help strengthen local leaders, elevate community voice, and support a recovery process for all. The people most affected by this disaster should be leaders in the recovery, not simply recipients of aid.” Binaifer Nowrojee, President, Open Society Foundations

ALT “Our support will help strengthen local leaders, elevate community voice, and support a recovery process for all. The people most affected by this disaster should be leaders in the recovery, not simply recipients of aid.” Binaifer Nowrojee, President, Open Society Foundations

“This is an opportunity for the recovery effort to go beyond immediate relief and restore dignity, expand opportunity, and empower people so they can build a more hopeful future.” Pedro Abramovay, Vice President of Programs, Open Society Foundations

ALT “This is an opportunity for the recovery effort to go beyond immediate relief and restore dignity, expand opportunity, and empower people so they can build a more hopeful future.” Pedro Abramovay, Vice President of Programs, Open Society Foundations

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Sort replies: Relevant Recent Liked
Replying to @OpenSociety
Stay out of South America, Soros.
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Replying to @OpenSociety
TruthLens check: DOUBTFUL (25/100). Reuters and BBC report death tolls of 254 and 169 respectively — both below the "300+" figure claimed here.
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Replying to @OpenSociety
The UN appeal for the response is only 27% funded — roughly $108 million short of its $148.1 million ask. The bigger constraint on spending what exists isn't cash but armed control: the ELN and Clan del Golfo are fighting over the San Juan belt in western Chocó, with hundreds of families confined and the corridor cut off. Full report: twitter.com/heyday_news/stat…
HeyDay News
@heyday_news
Aug 29
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia on August 10 killed 331 people and left a $108 million gap in UN aid, with only 27% of the appeal funded. The quake destroyed 33,000 homes and affected 196,000 families. The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time, five kilometers south of San José del Palmar in Chocó department, at a depth of about 110 kilometers. The official tally, cut off on August 26, records 331 dead, 4,449 injured, 219 missing, and 364 rescued. Damage spans 16 departments and 496 municipalities, with the worst hit areas including Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Chocó, and Caldas. The national disaster agency counted 33,395 homes destroyed and 187,839 damaged, along with 655 collapsed buildings, 377 health centers affected, and 3,833 educational facilities. More than 400,000 children lost access to school. About 193,000 families are directly affected, with 1.2 million people in need of assistance. The United Nations is seeking $148.1 million for its humanitarian response. As of the latest accounting, international donors had provided $35 million, and the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund added $5 million, bringing the total to about $40 million, or 27 percent of the appeal. The gap is about $108 million. The largest barrier to aid is access. The National Liberation Army and the Clan del Golfo are fighting for control of the San Juan subregion in western Chocó, which includes Sipí, Nóvita, and the Tamaná corridor. That conflict has produced mobility bans, the confinement of hundreds of families, and civilians wounded by drone-borne explosives. Relief agencies describe the area as inaccessible and isolated. The government has declared a national disaster, with President Abelardo de la Espriella issuing a decree on August 10 and later declaring an economic, social, and ecological emergency. Vice President José Manuel Restrepo is coordinating aid. The government estimates losses at about $9.6 billion, but that figure comes from a private firm, not the UN. Recovery planning is underway, with the UN Development Programme coordinating a damage assessment using satellite imagery. But hundreds of aftershocks have continued, and the USGS still forecasts a chance of further magnitude-4-plus events into September. With the appeal underfunded and access constrained, the recovery could take years. #ColombiaEarthquake #Choco
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Replying to @OpenSociety
A vital commitment to recovery that puts affected communities and local leadership at the center
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