Colombia Earthquake: How to Help
Project HOPE is responding to humanitarian needs in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake that struck near Cali, Colombia. Learn more about our response and how you can help.
On the morning of August 10, 2026, a deadly 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, 150 miles west of the capital city of Bogotá. This was the strongest earthquake to hit Colombia since 2016.
There have been at least 250 aftershocks and damage is widespread across western Colombia, with collapsed buildings, disrupted communications, and significant impact on critical infrastructure, including health centers. Hundreds of people have been killed, more than 4,500 are injured, and over 156,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.
Project HOPE is responding in the aftermath of this devastating disaster, distributing essential hygiene supplies, providing dignity items in hard-to-reach communities, and rapidly assessing conditions at affected health facilities. With your support, we can help health workers save more lives and help families begin to stabilize. Read on to learn more about how you can help.
What you need to know in Colombia
A deadly 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia in San José del Palmar, affecting over 120,000 families and causing damage in 448 municipalities across 15 departments. This was the strongest earthquake to strike Colombia in a decade, and it hit early in the morning as children were heading to school and people were commuting to work.
At least 300 people have been killed and over 4,500 are injured. Thousands of people could still be missing, and casualties are expected to climb in the coming weeks.
The destruction is widespread across western Colombia. More than 170 buildings have collapsed, including health facilities, over 127,500 homes have been damaged, and at least 29,000 homes were completely destroyed. Roads, bridges, airports, and water supply systems have all been damaged, internet connectivity is down in some areas, and at least 285 health centers and 2,838 educational institutions have been impacted.
Significant damage has been reported in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city — which is 100 miles from the epicenter — with 45 buildings that have partially or wholly collapsed. Across the affected region, reports show overwhelmed health centers, residents digging at rubble with their bare hands, and families desperately searching for loved ones.
How is Project HOPE responding to the earthquake in Colombia?
Project HOPE is responding to humanitarian needs by distributing hygiene supplies, dignity items, and cleaning materials to help survivors meet their most urgent needs. When they don’t have to worry about finding soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, diapers, or sanitary pads, children can begin to find normalcy, families can take a breath, and health workers can feel like they aren’t holding onto hope alone.
Project HOPE started assessing health facilities just hours after the earthquake struck, surveying the partially collapsed Hospital Universitario del Valle Evaristo García in Cali, where health workers have had to set up tents outside to treat the injured.
Our team continues to conduct rapid needs assessments and distribute essential supplies in hard-to-reach communities, traveling via boat, navigating around landslides, and walking across heavily damaged areas to reach those most in need. Every day, our team is speaking with health workers who are working around the clock despite being in urgent need of medicines, clean water, and other critical items.
As our teams reach more earthquake-affected communities, we will continue to distribute urgently needed supplies and reach people with the health and humanitarian support that saves lives and helps families thrive.
“People are scared of aftershocks — but despite their fears, health workers are continuing to provide lifesaving care in cracked buildings. In the coming days, we need to have their backs so they can keep doing their jobs and see that they aren’t alone.”
– Chessa Latifi, Project HOPE Deputy Director of Emergency Preparedness & Response
Project HOPE has extensive experience responding to earthquakes around the globe. We aim to address both urgent and long-term needs, stabilize local health systems, and ensure families have adequate access to primary healthcare; mental health and psychosocial support (including psychological first aid); shelter; and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
What are the greatest needs following the earthquake in Colombia?
Prior to the earthquake, nearly 7 million people in Colombia already needed humanitarian support and areas of western Colombia were already experiencing displacement from violence. The widespread devastation is expected to drive humanitarian needs even higher as families face further displacement, disrupted services, loss of income, and reduced access to basic necessities.
“The situation is devastating. Buildings have collapsed far from the epicenter, raising everyone’s fears of future aftershocks, especially as connectivity is a challenge in the more rural areas.”
– Chessa Latifi, Project HOPE Deputy Director of Emergency Preparedness & Response
Hundreds of roads have been damaged, water and electricity have been disrupted in some areas, and limited internet and phone connectivity is making it more difficult for frontline responders to assess damage in rural areas. In low-income communities, the impacts of this earthquake will be especially long-lasting.
Now, as the days tick on, families are continuing to search for missing loved ones, and health workers are still working around the clock.
Many health centers are overwhelmed, with thousands of people injured and many still trapped beneath the rubble. Some residents are afraid to go inside for fear of future shaking, many are sleeping in the street, and families report children being terrified of aftershocks. As this crisis continues, the need for psychological first aid and other support for affected families is becoming clear.
What is Project HOPE’s history in Colombia?
Project HOPE first began its work to strengthen healthcare in Colombia in 1995, when we helped establish a regional emergency medical system at the request of local government, health facilities, and university partners.
In 2018, Project HOPE began responding to the urgent needs of host communities, Venezuelan migrants, and refugees living along the Colombia-Venezuela border in the Norte de Santander department. Since then, we have continued to expand access to health services in Cúcuta, Villa del Rosario, and other municipalities in Norte de Santander, working in coordination with local health authorities.
Over the years, our work in Colombia has included providing primary and maternal healthcare, distributing hygiene kits, operating mental health and psychosocial support, conducting health brigades, connecting displaced families with social work and support services, repairing water and hygiene infrastructure, and supporting health workers with equipment and training.
How you can help Colombia
The earthquake in Colombia has displaced thousands of people and entire communities have been made vulnerable by this crisis. If you want to help, here’s how you can get involved:
1. Make a lifesaving gift to support our work now and for the future.
2. Interested in an employee giving campaign for Colombia? Please contact us — we are happy to help.
3. Stay up-to-date on this story and our lifesaving work around the world by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter, and help spread the word about our response.
Volunteering: We are seeking medical professional volunteers, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, and pharmacists, to participate in our healthcare delivery efforts. To apply and learn more information, please use this link.
