The government of Paraguay sent over 50 tons of humanitarian aid to Colombia after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country last Monday. The shipment, composed of medicine, medical supplies, and non-perishable food, departed from the First Air Brigade in Luque, bound for Medellín, one of the cities most affected by the tragedy.
President Santiago Peña led the send-off ceremony and highlighted the historical ties between the two nations. "Colombia is a brotherly people, with whom we share a history of deep friendship. In the face of this adversity, we unite to support them," he stated. Peña also recalled Colombia's gesture of solidarity during the War of the Triple Alliance (1865-1870), when the Colombian Congress declared that "every Paraguayan is Colombian" in support of Paraguay's reconstruction.
The earthquake left a provisional toll of 294 dead, 3,935 injured, and 320 missing, according to a bulletin from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) released on Saturday. Affected families number 54,008, totaling 115,461 people across 448 municipalities in 15 of Colombia's 32 departments. Damages include 14,493 homes destroyed, 81,506 with damage, 66 collapsed buildings, 241 health centers, and 2,612 schools damaged.
Infrastructure also suffered severe impacts: 3,621 community centers, 298 roads, 59 aqueducts, 44 vehicle bridges, five pedestrian bridges, and five airports were affected. Additionally, 188 animals were rescued and 578 are affected. The epicenter of the quake was in the Chocó region, in the municipality of San José del Palmar, with severe effects in cities like Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and Vice President José Manuel were cited by Peña as recipients of Paraguayan support. Accompanying the president at the ceremony were Defense Minister, retired General Óscar González; the head of the National Emergency Secretariat (SEN), retired Colonel Arsenio Zárate; and Industry and Commerce Minister Marco Riquelme.